Assembly Pass Arunachal Pradesh Tenancy Bill 2022

Itanagar, September 8, 2022: The State Legislative Assembly by voice vote passed the Arunachal Pradesh Tenancy Bill 2022 by, which is on the line of Model Tenancy Act, 2021 passed by the Government of India. Town Planning Minister Kamlung Mosang, while introducing the bill, informed that the existing act does not have adequate provision to address the relationship between the landlord and the tenant. He said that this bill has been made with an objective to balance the right of the tenant and the landlord and to encourage private investor in take part in housing sector.

Later, Dy. Speaker Tesam Pongte adjourned the House sine-die while appreciating the members for their cooperation in smooth conduction of the proceedings.

Question Hour

Home Minister Bamang Felix today informed that a total of 35 proposals have been received for establishing of fire stations from across the state, which are in various stages of finalization. While informing that establishing of fire stations is a joint operation by Home Department, Fire Department and Administrative Reform Department, he said any such proposal from any district must come with a land availability certificate while answering to question put forward by MLA Raga, Tarin Dakpe on sanctioning of fire and emergency service station at Raga, Kamle District.

Environment and Forest Minister Mama Natung, while responding to a query by Borduria Bogapani MLA Wanglin Lowangdong, informed that until an eco-sensitive zone is notified by the Central Government through the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for the Dihing Patkai National Park in Assam, extraction and exploration of mineral resources cannot take place within a 10 km radius of the National Park under the Forest Conservation Act. Deomali and Namsang falls within this radius. He informed that the department, along with the user agency, has submitted the requisite documents to the Regional Office at Shillong, which is still pending. He clarified that this issue is not that of the State government.

This is despite the fact, as was explained by Geology and Mining Minister Kamlung Mosang, that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had given petroleum Exploration License (PEL) to Oil India Limited in 1998 for Deomali block.

Lowangdong who was of the view that ‘Mineral is the future of the State’ and hence, extraction and exploration of mineral resources must start. He justified that Supreme Court has banned mining exploration and not oil or gas exploration.

Responding to a question by Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering regarding compensation to villagers near the Gali Reserve Forest and Gutin reserve Forest, Environment and Forest Minister Mama Natung also informed that under the Forest Rights Act of 2006 that grants the use of forest land to other traditional forest dwellers and scheduled tribes that have lived there for at least three generations, villagers of nearby villages of Gutin Reserve Forest will not be affected. He requested the MLA to send a proposal for the same through the District Administration.

Zero Hour discussion

Transport Minister, Nakap Nalo, informed the house that the government is taking every step for the benefit of people living in and around Murkong- Selek to Pasighat Railway line area.

Answering to the Zero hour discussion initiated by Congress Member, Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering on construction of new railway line at 12 mile, Rami, Sille and other adjoin areas, the Transport Minister said, apprehension of the public has been taken up with the Railway authority, the matters has been discussed and assurance has been given by the authority by saying, ‘the officer of North- Eastern Frontier Railways are going to provide sufficient provision for the agricultural irrigation for free flow of water by constructing bridges for major/ minor water outlets and crossed pipe systems for small water outlets from water resource. The existing WRC will not be hampered for the want of water connectivity for irrigation purpose in the way of Railway line construction.’

The Minister also added, the government priorities the benefit of the project rather than loss, therefore concern of the people are kept on the top most priority before any project implementations.

Earlier, raising concern over the Construction of New Railway line in 12 Mile, Rami, Sille and other adjoining areas, Ninong Ering informed these areas are considered as the rice ball of the East as the production is very high here, therefore if the authority do not take proper future irrigation steps and tame the waters resources the agriculture land will be affected and if there is no systematic way to channelize the area even the railway line may also get wash out during the monsoon season.

Ering, further requested the Railway authority and representative of government of state to protect the production of the farmers in these areas. The issues to be discussed with the Authority and further steps be taken before the works starts.