Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 06:
Even as the State Government is stepping up the drive against encroachers to set the stage ready for laying the foundation stone of the proposed Imphal Capitol Project by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during his scheduled visit, the Revenue Department is alleged to have issued pattas on the sly at the reserve forest area of Langol range to private individuals.
According to a reliable source, State Revenue Department is found to have allegedly issued pattas at the reserve forest areas to private individuals in violation of the laid down norms.
When the matter came to light, to save its face, the State Government has instructed the Forest Dept to evict the encroachers, and issued orders to the officials concerned to cancel the pattas, the source added.
Steps have also been taken up for demarcating the boundary between the Langol Reserve Forest and the adjoining revenue villages on the southern side tomorrow from 7 am onwards, the source said, while informing a notification in this connection has been issued by Director of Settlement and Land Records N Angou Singh today.
The area to be included in the land demarcation are 97-Chingmeirong, 90-Thangmeiband, 91 (A)- Lamphelpat, 91-Meitei Langol and 92-Iroisemba.The notification asked all the landholders concerned to be present at the time of land demarcation with documents related to the lands in their possession.
Apart from laying the foundation stone for the Capitol Project, the Prime Minister is expected to lay the foundation stones for the Cultural Complex at Palace Compound and the Railway line from Jiribam to Tupul.
The PM will also attend the convocation of Manipur University, during which he is likely to announce the upgradation of the university to the status of a Central University, according to the source.
For providing security coverage to the Prime Minister during his visit, an Advance Security Liaison Team (ASLT) from Delhi is expected to arrive at Imphal very soon.
Besides another team of officials from the Prime Minister�s Office (PMO) would be coming here look in to the arrangement being made for fooding and lodging of the visiting dignitary, the source informed further.