Unauthorized religious structures lay seige to Keibul Lamjao National Park
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 04, 2011:
Six unauthorized religious structures have sprung up in the Keibul Lamjao National Park.
There are 310 such structures across the state.
The illegal structures inside the park was found in a survey recently conducted by the Forest Department, an official source said Friday.
The authority conducted the survey to prepare a report on the existence of unauthorized structures within the area declared as a national park for onward submission to the Parliamentary Secretariat, New Delhi, to prepare a reply to a question tabled in the Parliament.
The structures found illegally constructed inside the park are, Panthoibi temple, a temple constructed by one O Thambal, Nganuleima temple, a memorial structre (Phura) and two Mahadev temples, the report of the forest department said.
The department has also taken up steps for eviction of the said illegal structures, the source added.
At least 310 unauthorized religious structures are standing in public places in Manipur, according to a report of the Manipur government compiled on the reports submitted by Deputy Commissioners of the districts.
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The Imphal West district has the highest number of unauthorized religious structures in public places with 188 structures followed by Imphal East with 112 structures.
Fourteen such structures are in Thoubal district, two in Ukhrul, three in Churachandpur and one in Senapati district.
There was no record of unauthorized structures in public places in the districts of Tamenglong, Bishnupur and Chandel districts as per the report submitted by DCs concerned.
The survey on the unauthorized religious structures was conducted in the state as per a directive of the Supreme Court of India passed on September 29, 2009. The directive asked all the states not to allow construction of fresh religious structures in public places, parks etc.
Manipur government, on receiving the directive, ordered the DCs of the nine districts to ensure that the directions of Supreme Court are strictly adhered to.
An affidavit containing the details of the unauthorized religious structures in public places in the state has also been filed in the Supreme Court, the source said.