DFO leads route march and area domination at Heingang RF
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 27 2024: Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) N Ganesh, along with Range Forest Officers of Central Forest Division and 100 more Forest staff, conducted a route march and area domination along the foothills of Heingang Reserved Forest (RF) on Saturday.

According to a release issued by the Central Forest Division, the march started from the Maijing area and proceeded towards the Pangei Road and Keirang Muslim and returned to Maijing Polo Complex (a stretch of 15 Km) .

The area domination, by the way of perambulation of RF area was aimed at detection of new encroachments and arresting rampant hill earth excavation in the forest areas.

Heingang RF, established by Manipur State Darbar Resolution No 432 dated August 4, 1913, spans 10 sq km and fells under the jurisdiction of Sadar East Range in Khabam Block.

During the march, the team addressed critical issues such as trespassing, encroachments, and hill earth excavation, which pose significant threat to the forests.

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.

Hill earth excavation is a punishable Offence under Section 26 & 42 of Indian Forest Act and is punishable with 6 months imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000 or both, along with compensation to the damaged cost to the Reserved Forests.

The team also proposed establishing additional check-posts along the boundaries of the Heingang RF to monitor and prevent illegal activities in and around the area.

More than 10 encroachments were detected and Show Cause Notices were issued.

Preliminary Offence reports were also filed against those encroachers as a result of the exercise.

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

Range Forest Officers, Kiranjit Yumanm (RO/SW), Jobid Meitei (RO/SE), Robatson Singh (RO/HQ), Tipu Raj Toijam (RO/Nongmaiching), Raghu Singh (RO/Sawombung) led their respective team in the march.

The Forest Department has appealed to the public to inform the Department of any new encroachments or illegal activities, particularly Hill Earth Excavation in foothills in the reserved forests to aid in the conservation efforts.

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