Land survey teams blocked in CCpur district
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang Mangte
CCpur, April 13 2023:
Even after their failed attempt to carry out land survey at Sielmat village in Churachandpur district on April 11, official teams Forest and Revenue departments on Thursday made a second attempt at the same village area but it was met with stiff resistance from the public and villagers, forcing the team to leave.
The Sielmat villagers first blocked the officials from all the entrance and exit points of the village to show their resentment and objection, to the survey being carried out in their village.
The survey team was accompanied by Tuibong SDO Jangminlen Lupho and Churachandpur ADM S Thienlaljoy Gangte.
Despite their persistent effort, the survey team could not go ahead with the survey and left as the villagers along with various civil society organisations strongly opposed it.
The Sielmat village chief also submitted a letter of objection to the team, informing them that Sielmat being a bona fide Patta land is never a part of the so-called Khoupum Protected Forest area, and which they never heard about.
The survey must be stopped immediately unless the motive of the survey is established, the chief's objection letter added.
Another team was also blocked at Valpakot village along the Churachand-pur-Sugnu road.
The survey team headed by Saikot SDO was stopped from proceeding further by a large crowd of people at Saikot by blocking the Churachandpur-Sugnu road.
The Churachandpur district police also arrived soon after at both the spots, however, the survey team could not perform their duty as they were obstructed.
Later in the afternoon, the divisional forest officer called a meeting with all stakeholders, joint student union leaders like Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF), Hmar Students' Association (HSA), Research Preservation of the Zo Identities (RPZI), community and tribe leaders at the officer's office located at Bijang in Churachandpur to deliberate over the issue of survey with regard to Khoupum Protected Forest.
However, the meeting which was a well-attended one in terms of participation by the leaders could not take place as DFO Esther Laltankim Serto failed to turn up.
Saikot MLA Paolienlal Haokip and Churachandpur MLA LM Khaute have also written to the Forest & Environment minister regarding the matter, informing him to instruct the officials concerned to halt further survey before the contentious land issues are satisfactorily clarified.