Imphal: The state government will push for effective implementation of the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2014, in the valley areas and punish the violators.

Revenue minister Karam Shyam told reporters here on Wednesday that though the act came into effect in September 2014, it has not been effectively implemented. The revenue secretary and deputy secretary along with the deputy commissioners of the valley districts and the agriculture director have decided to make it effective, he said.

The minister said strict action will be taken on the reports collected by the agriculture department on conversion of paddy fields for different purposes. The deputy commissioners will have to find out if the conversion purposes were reasonable, he said.

Many sections, including farmers, have been raising their voice to save paddy land. "I seek cooperation from the people in taking appropriate steps in this regard," he said.

According to the horticulture and agriculture department, Manipur has 1,97,000 hectares of arable land.

Under Section 18 of the act, a violator may be imprisoned for three to five years and fined between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh. If a landowner is found guilty of converting the land using machines, the machines will be seized. To take it back, a landowner has to pay 50 per cent above the actual land value to the government.

Deputy revenue secretary Y. Rajen said landowners can build residential buildings over 0.1 acre in urban and 0.2 acre in rural areas, provided the possessor or his family does not own suitable land for the purpose. If paddy land is used to construct a building meant for public welfare, the act will not be applicable.

Illegal conversion of land will be monitored by local-level committees, district-level and the state-level committee. The local committee, chaired by a subdivisional officer, will examine the alternative use of land and verify if the owner has no other land for the purpose.

The district committee, chaired by the deputy commissioner, will examine the recommendations by the local committee and check if the conversion was affecting the environment. The district-level committee will refer the report to the state committee, which will decide accordingly, Rajen said.