Authorities halt illegal excavation at hill
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 10 2017:
DFO Thoubal RK Amaijit along with Thoubal police personnel today halted the illegal excavation at Waithou Ching along NH102 .
The officer put up prohibition notices around the area and dug some drains using JCBs to prevent illegal vehicular passage, reports our correspondent.
Later, the local people came out to agitate and condemned the road obstruction while stating that the area belong to the locals.
Speaking to media persons, RK Amaijit stated that some miscreants have been digging from Waithou Ching which is illegal since the area is under protected forest and prohibited according to Indian Forest Act 1927 and Forest Conservation Act 1980 .
According to Amrajit, the area is a protected forest but illegal excavation and resource scouring during night and other inopportune time have greatly affected the area.
He stated that as the area is a protected forest, the people resorting to such excavation are liable to punishment according to the law.
The DFO also explained that a case is ongoing at the Civil Court regarding the land issue and further appealed to all those concerned not to perform any kind of excavation at the area until the issue is resolved.