Encroachers evicted, houses dismantled
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 24 2015 :
Altogether 64 houses built inside Hei-ngang Reserved Forest were dismantled today by Forest Department, Central Forest Division with the help of Imphal East district adminis-tration and police.
Two excavators were pres-sed into service since 8 am to raze the houses allegedly built after encroaching into the reserved forest area.
As the eviction drive began, the affected people raised a hue and cry but the uproar was subdued by deployment of additional police personnel.
Most of the dismantled houses were built at the foot of Heingang Hills at Kairang Khunou, Heingang Mayai Leikai and Heingang Awang Leikai.
According to one Forest officer who was present during the eviction drive, the encroachers were notified six times since 2013 to dismantle their houses.
Heingang Hills which is 9.71 Sq Kms in area was declared as a reserved forest by a resolution adopted by the Manipur State Durbar in 1913 .
The two lattest notifications were issued on June 26 and October 16 this year.
The notification issued on October 16 set a deadline on Octo- ber 22, informed the officer.
Heingang Reserved Forest and Langol Reserved Forest are like lungs for Imphal city.
Any encroachment into these reserved forest areas is anti-people.
Some structures of Sericulture Department were also found constructed inside the reserved forest area.
The Forest officer maintained that these structures too would be dismantled if due clearance was not obtained or necessary documents could not be produced.