Central Forest Division takes route march along Langol RF boundary
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 20 2024: The Central Forest Division conducted a route march along the foothills of Langol Reserved Forest (RF) today.The march which started from Tarung and proceeded towards the Iroishemba Beat Office was led by Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) N Ganesh and participated by Range Forest Officer (RFO) Kiranjit Yumnam and forest staff.

The primary objective of the march was to assess the human-induced pressures affecting the reserved forest, said N Ganesh, DFO Central Forest Division.

Langol Reserved Forest and Langol Extension RF were established by the Manipur State Durbar Resolution No 4 on November 2, 1938 .

Langol RF covers an area of 19.22 sq Km, while Langol Extension RF spans 2.05 sq Km.

These forests are under the jurisdiction of Sadar East and Sadar West Range, comprising two blocks: Lamdeng and Khabam.

Central Forest Division takes route march along Langol RF boundary

During the march, the team addressed critical issues such as trespassing, littering, and small-scale mining, which pose significant threats to the forest ecosystem.

It is important to note that any illegal occupation within the reserved forest contravenes Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the Manipur Forest Rules, 2021, and Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.Such encroachments are punishable under law, said the DFO.

Additionally, many illegal Dags have been issued within the Langol Reserved Forest against the provisions of the aforementioned Acts and Rules.

As such, any Dag Chithas/Patta issued inside the Langol Reserved Forest shall be treated as null and void as per a State Government order issued on May 31, 1994, he added.

During the march, the team also noted importance of establishing additional check-posts along the boundaries of the Langol RF to monitor and prevent illegal activities in and around the area.

DFO N Ganesh directed the Range Forest Officers to conduct a fresh assessment of encroachers to safeguard the forest.

The Forest Department remains dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the forests.

Efforts are being made to protect the biodiversity and natural resources of Langol Reserved Forest, he said.

By implementing stricter monitoring measures and engaging local communities, the department aims to create a sustainable and secure environment for both wildlife and the people of Imphal, he added.

"We appeal to the general public to inform the Forest Department of any new encroachments or illegal acti- vities in the reserved forests to aid in our conservation efforts," said the DFO.

Earlier, there have been many cases of encroachment into reserved forests areas including Langol Reserved Forests.

Many of these encroachers were later evicted by the Government after following due procedure as established by law.