Sit-in staged against eviction notice
Source: Chronicle News Service
Thoubal, June 11 2022:
Decrying the eviction notice served to 69 families who are constructing their houses in and around the protected forest area at Waithou, locals staged a sit-in protest at Waithou Shangomshang on Saturday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the protest, one Naorem Ebema contended that the area is a historical place and they, were made to settle there since the time of king Bodhchandra.
The locals have been protecting the wells dug by the king, trees planted by him and the shrine of Lairembi.
They have never cut down trees from the hill, and not even take up gardening activities in the area.
All they did is occupying some space for the construction of houses.
They did not quarry earth from the hills and instead prevented others from taking collecting the earth.
However, there were instances when officials of Forest Department took the earth for use in prevention of flood and other activities, she added.
While denouncing the sudden eviction notice served to them by DC Thoubal, she said the people taking shelter in the area are extremely poor and do not possess any land plot or even money for constructing houses.
She urged the government to allow the Meitei and Meitei-Pangal communities to live in the area and further assured of planting trees and protecting the area.
Stating that they respect the initiatives of Manipur CM, Ebema urged for making alternative arrangement for the poor people who are taking shelter in the area.