Manipur, May 16 -- The question of land reforms has always been a problem in the state of Manipur, with certain groups always raising hell over the extension of Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms Act, 1960 in the hill areas. Although it is awkward to have separate land laws within the boundaries of a single state we have also been advocating a separate land law for the hills in the interest of hill people. The lack of land reforms in the hills had always been an obstacle to proper land-use policy and the overall development and welfare of the common people for lack of individual land ownership rights.

Certain vested interest groups have created a wrong notion about land reforms and for that matter, land survey. Land survey does not nece...