MANIPUR: EVICTION DRIVE AT RESERVE FOREST

Forest Department today began eviction drive at the illegally encroached areas at Awaching (Kobithabi) in Nongmaiching Reserve Forest. The department will continue the eviction drive at other encroached areas in all reserve forests.

Addressing the media persons at his New Secretariat office, Forest and Environment Minister Shri Thounaojam Shyamkumar on Monday, cautioned that, the Forest Department will conduct similar eviction drive at the illegally encroached reserve forest areas in all the districts. The Forest Department has been timely intimating the encroachers to evict the areas, he added.

Appealing for cooperation from the people, he said the drive is not targeted against any community rather it is targeted only at the illegal encroachers. He said the eviction drive will also cover those holding patta land inside the reserve forest areas as according to Indian Forest Act, there is prohibition on public or from acquiring land inside the protected area. He advised all the encroachers to shift from the reserve forest land to avoid any untoward incident.

Stating that eviction drive requires manpower and force, he said coordination is necessary for the drive to be successful for a better future of the next generation. He said the Forest Department will contiue the eviction drive at all the districts and cautioned that all the illegally encroached areas will be evicted.

He informed that under the Central Forest Division, the Forest Department evicted 78 encroachers from Heingang Reserve Forest, Sadar East Range in 2015; 25 encroachers from Lamlongei, Langol Reserve Forest, Sadar East Range in 2016; 13 encroachers from Iroisemba, Langol Rserve Forest, Sadar West Range in 2016; 2 encroachers from Lamdeng, Langol Reserve Forest, Sadar West Range in 2017; 7 encroachers from Laimanai, Langol Reserve Forest, Sadar West Range in 2017; 2 encroachers from Pantilong, Langol Reserve Forest, Sadar East Range in 2018 (earlier this year) and 8 encroachers from Heingang Reserve Forest, Sadar East Range in 2018 (earlier this year).

Speaking about the evicted families/persons, the Minister said he understands the problems of the people that is why he will address the rehabilitation matter with the Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. Minister Th. Shyamkumar further appealed to the public to fully cooperate with the Forest Department officials in the mission to make it successful for a better future of Manipur.