NGT punctures Govt's move
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 18 2015 : Acting on a directive of the Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, the houses constructed by the State Government at Lamlongei Langol reserved forest area for the resettlement of displaced residents of Lei Ingkhol and Kabo Leikai have been demolished today.

All the illegal houses/structures built at the reserved forest area were demolished using JCB earth excavators by the Department concerned in the presence of SDO, Imphal East.

After the Principal Bench of NGT issued a directive to the State Government on April 6 to pull down all the houses and structures constructed at the area within four week's time, Imphal East DC issued an order to carry out a demolition drive yesterday.

A police team led by Imphal East Additional SP (Operations) Singhajit was deployed at the area to thwart any unwanted incident during the drive that began from 9 am.

A bull dozer put to work to demolish a structure

Altogether 28 houses were dismantled during the drive that concluded at around 3 pm.

It may be mentioned that the State Government was planning to rehabilitate 110 displaced families of Lei Ingkhol and Kabo Leikai at the area and the said move faced stiff opposition from Lamlongei Yaipha Thouda Nupi Marup (LYTNM) from last year itself.

Although, the women's body carried on their agitation, the State Government continued construction of houses by cleaning the reserved forest area.

Later, LYTNM challenged the Government's move by filing separate petitions at the High Court of Manipur and NGT, New Delhi.

On April 6 this year, the Principal Bench of NGT directed the State Revenue Department to conduct a physical re-demarcation of Langol reserved forest area near Lamlongei village in the presence of LYTNM members on April 13 .

The Principal Bench also directed the State Government to demolish all the houses and structures which are constructed outside 0.956 hectares of land reserved for the construction of TB and Leprosy Treatment Centre.

Acting on this directive, the State Revenue Department carried out a fresh demarcation of 0.956 hectares of land at the foothill of Lamlongei under Langol reserved forest hill range on April 13 .

During the demarcation, Department officials came across numerous unauthorized constructions/structures in and around the reserved forest area, which violate the norms laid down by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India.

After the authority concerned failed to demolish these illegal structures, LYTNM again threatened to take the matter before the Supreme Court in case the State Government fails to execute the Tribunal's directive within June 10 this year.

Mention may be made that locals had earlier raised concerns over earth quarrying at the area by Okram Henry.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Wangkhei AC MLA Y Erabot questioned whether the amount earned from this earth quarry was deposited in the State's coffers or not.

He further alleged that on January 29 last year, the State Government had sent a proposal to the Union Ministry concerned to de-reserve 2.88 hectares of reserved forest land of Lamlongei.

The State Government later decided to rehabilitate the displaced residents of Lei Ingkhol and Kabo Leikai at Lamlongei, he said.

He also said that no area of reserved forest land can be de-reserved for the resettlement of people according to the Indian Forest Act.

The MLA also said that a case regarding encroachment of land at Kabo Leikai (Naga Nulla) and eviction of residents for the upgradation of Imphal Hotel to a five-star hotel is also pending at the Supreme Court.

He also questioned the purpose of setting up a TB and Leprosy Treatment Centre at Lamlongei by de-reserving 0.956 hectare of land as the Government has already developed infrastructures for a similar centre at Keirao Wangkhem with an estimated cost of around Rs 8 crore.