Two pulled up for issuing forged pattas
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 28 2022:
Two Government employees have been pulled up for issuing forged pattas at the protected forest area of Waithou Hills, Thoubal district which is also known as 17 Chaobok revenue village.
Speaking to media persons at the conference hall of Old Secretariat today, Revenue Secretary N Kheda Varta said that Chief Minister N Biren, after returning from attending Khongjom Day function on April 23, issued specific instruction to take up necessary action against all the people who have encroached into Imphal-Moreh highway, 17 Chaobok revenue village and also to enforce land laws stringently.
Acting on the Chief Minister's instruction, an intensive drive was launched against encroachments at different places.
In the course of subsequent investigation, certain facts were discovered with regard to 17 Chaobok revenue village.
Surveys carried out by the Directorate of Settlement and Land Reforms, Forest Department and SDO Lilong by taking special reference to the old land records of 1964 found that the boundary line given in the map was scraped using blade and the same boundary was shifted towards the hills.
Some people were also found expanding the areas of their lands by encroaching into the protected forest area and fresh pattas were issued in their names, N Kheda Varta said.
Two employees who were involved in issuing forged pattas even though they were not competent authority have been apprehended and lodged in police custody after registering an FIR.
The two employees who have been apprehended are Md Allauddin who earlier served as a Mandal in SDC Office and now posted at Nungba, and Soibam Luke who retired in 2018 after serving as Draftsman Head at the Directorate of Settlement, he said.
So far, 43 people who are in possession of forged pattas, not issued by competent authority and 20 people who encroached into protected areas without holding any patta have been identified, the Revenue Secretary said.
These 63 people have been occupying 16.50 acres without any valid documents, he informed that added that they have been consulting different departments to take necessary action against the encroachers.
He further informed that a survey has been initiated against encroachment in LDA areas while forged patta holders in Moirang area have been identified.
The Revenue Secretary added that a similar survey is going on at Langol area.