Move out: CM to river banks' excroachers
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, February 19 2018: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has warned all illegal encroachers who are occupying river banks that they should voluntarily move out of these areas by March 3 else the Government would be compelled to evict the encroachers by force.

Speaking to media persons while inspecting dredging work being taken up at various areas of Imphal River today, the Chief Minister stated that illegal encroachment is one major factor for causing flash floods in the State.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Minister for Water Resources Letpao Haokip, Keirao AC MLA L Rameshwar Meetei and officials of Water Resources Department during inspection of the dredging work being taken up at the river banks of Khurai Telipati, Kairang and Kyamgei areas.

He said that under the Flood Plain Zoning Act, no land pattas within 30 feet around the river can be issued to any individual.

Legally no one can reside within these protected areas, he added.

If an individual got patta within this area, then the patta could have been obtained by forgery.

"Under the MLR& LR Act and Flood Plain Zoning Act, we have taken up certain steps and served show cause notices to those encroachers and given 45 days," Biren said.

He appealed to all the people of the State to remove the crematoriums, houses, clubs, toilets etc constructed along the river banks by March 3.The Chief Minister said that the Government would try its best to correct the damages caused by floods in the State.

Before the monsoon season, the Government would dredge the beds of rivers such as Imphal River, Thoubal River, Iril River and Kongba River etc and eviction process of all encroachers would begin soon to control the damage caused by the floods during rainy season, he added.

He mentioned that if the Government relies on Centre's financial assistance for cleaning up the river beds, the State would definitely face the scourge of floods in the next rainy season.

"Under NLCPR we were given Rs 15 crore in the past, out of which a sum of Rs 10 crore had been used for procuring Bored Piles and other machineries for dredging of river beds in the State.

So with the remaining Rs 5 crore, the Water Resources Department has started the dredging work with rented machineries", he added.

Minister for Water Resources Letpao Haokip said that the Department in consultation with the MLAs concerned is chalking out plans to check flash floods in the near future.

He said that there is a master plan to clean the whole stretch of Imphal River from Kairang to Lilong area.

However due to financial constraint, there are some limitation to clean up the whole stretch.

"We have started the dredging work along the Imphal River at selected areas which are prone to floods", he added.

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