Forest Dept evicts land encroachers, affected families demand resettlement
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 10 2016:
In a positive step to conserve the ecological balance and preserve the diminishing reserve forest range of Imphal valley, illegal land encroachers at Iroisemba (Sadar West Range) of Langol Reserved Forest were evicted by officials of the Department of Forest accompanied by large number of security personnel this morning.
Altogether, five houses including a latrine constructed illegally in the reserve forest area were dismantled by the officials in the eviction drive.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) PN Prasad told media that the eviction process was initiated after due notification were served to the land encroachers.
The first notice to evacuate from the reserve forest area was issued in the year 2011 .
|
"The Department is following the instructions of the Government and its decision to preserve the diminishing Langol Reserve Forest due to illegal encroachment," he said.
The eviction drive against illegal land encroachers in the forest area will continue in other areas also, he said.
The previous day, a staff of the Department of Forest who went to serve a reminder to the households was assaulted which resulted in a brawl between the two parties, PN Prasad lamented.
Following the incident, the department initiated the eviction process, he said.
Langol Reserve Forest covers a wide area of about 19.22 sq km.
Few days back, another eviction drive was conducted in Lamlongei Nepali Basti area in which 32 houses were evicted.
The department is aiming to complete the eviction drive in Langol Reserve Forest by September this year, another official from the department stated.
Meanwhile, the affected households convened a press meet against the eviction drive conducted by the Government authorities.
Representing the affected families, Chingangbam Gopal said the concerned authorities served the notice of eviction on August 9.Also, the allegation that a staff of the department who came to serve the notice of eviction was assaulted by the locals is baseless, he said.
"When we were processing steps to request for the extension of the eviction date, the Department forcefully conducted the eviction drive," he alleged.
Such authoritarian act by the Department is not acceptable and the concerned authorities should initiate steps for temporary resettlement of the affected households on humanitarian ground.