Paddy Fields and Wetlands: The “Act” that does not act

The Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, enacted in 2014 and later amended in 2021, was intended as a vital safeguard for the state’s agricultural backbone and ecological lifelines. It promised protection for paddy fields and wetlands, imposing strict penalties against unauthorized conversion and empowering local monitoring bodies to enforce compliance. But nearly a decade later, and despite the 2021 amendment’s stricter clauses, the Act remains largely unenforced, allowing widespread destruction of farmland right under the nose of the authorities. With Manipur currently under President’s Rule, it is time for the central administration to wake up and act before irreversible damage is done.
From 2021 to today, Google satellite imagery of Manipur’s valley areas tells a disturbing visual story—paddy fields that once stretched across the plains of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching are vanishing. In their place now stand clusters of residential buildings, brick kilns, and concrete structures. Entire patches of green have been replaced by grey, and this alarming pace of transformation is visible even to the average internet user. These changes are not just isolated incidents; they are part of a large-scale, unregulated wave of land-use change that seems to be thriving due to official apathy.
In areas like Chumbreithong Mantripukhri and Achanbigei under Heingang Assembly Constituency, unauthorized constructions continue without fear. Permanent houses, commercial buildings, and boundary walls have been raised on land clearly marked as agricultural. These developments have taken place without any documented permission from the government, in direct violation of the Act. Reports by Imphal Times highlighted how these violations are not only visible but also unchecked, despite being reported to the authorities. In some cases, there are murmurs of involvement or silent approval from influential individuals, adding a layer of political protection to illegal activities.
The Act provides for fines of up to Rs. 2 lakh and imprisonment for violators. It also requires monitoring by Local Level Monitoring Committees and oversight by district-level authorities. But in reality, these mechanisms have either collapsed or remain completely inactive. Early signs of enforcement—such as restrictions on soil excavation and a few demolition drives—were short-lived. Since then, the silence of the government machinery has allowed illegal land conversion to become the norm rather than the exception.
What’s worse is the scale. As per available data, Manipur had about 1.95 lakh hectares of cultivable land. Of this, nearly 30,000 hectares have either been diverted for fish farming or repurposed for buildings and other infrastructure. This includes around 20,000 hectares already lost to encroachments and another 9,000 taken up by development programs under agencies like the Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA). These numbers only scratch the surface, as they do not account for thousands of small-scale, undocumented land grabs happening in almost every corner of the valley.
What is deeply troubling is that all this continues even during President’s Rule. If there was ever a time for a neutral, firm administrative hand to intervene, it is now. The central administration must not let this crucial environmental and agricultural issue fade into the background. The Chief Secretary and relevant district officials must be directed to strictly enforce the Act and stop all illegal constructions immediately. Demolitions where necessary, freezing of land transfers, and legal action against violators must be initiated without delay.
Manipur cannot afford to lose more of its farmland. Once fertile paddy fields are lost to concrete, they are lost forever. The shrinking of agricultural land also means shrinking food security, drying water tables, increased flooding risks, and the erosion of rural livelihoods. The law exists, the violations are clear, and the public discontent is growing. What is missing is political will and administrative resolve.
This is not the first time a well-intentioned law in Manipur has been allowed to fail. The state’s history is full of examples—from the liquor prohibition to forest protections—where rules exist only on paper. The Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, especially with its 2021 amendment, must not join this list. The people are watching. The land is suffering. And the time to act is now.