29 'recently' constructed houses demolished
Encroachers at reserved forest evicted
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 11 2023: At least 29 houses 'recently' constructed inside Langol Reserved Forest areas at Mantripukhri Lamlongei Village have been demolished by the State authorities, today.

Mantripukhri Lamlongei Village falls under Heingang Assembly Constituency.

The eviction drive was carried out by a team of Forest officials and police led by the DFO of Central Forest Division RK Amarjit and Additional SP (Traffic), Imphal East K Bijoykumar under Rule no 73 of the Manipur Forest Rules, 2021 and Section 26 of Indian Forest Act, 1927 .

Speaking to media persons, RK Amarjit said that the encroachers were given show cause notice on March 29 to explain why houses were constructed inside the reserve forest area and the time to submit the response was given on or before April 4 .

29 'recently' constructed houses demolished

Saying that the encroachers were given ample opportunity to raise their objection in person or in writing, the DFO said that none of the encroachers produced valid documents to justify their stay in the reserved forest land.

He also said that the encroachers were directed to move their assets and other valuable items by April 10 .

"Some encroachers evicted today claimed that they have the right to stay in the forest areas under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.However, on thorough analysis of office records and satellite images, it was found that they started occupying the forest land only after May 2018," the DFO claimed.

Claiming that all the 29 encroachers evicted were not present in the forest area during the time of joint verification drive by the Forest Rights Committee formed under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, RK Amarjit maintained the the eviction order was issued on on April 6, 2023 based upon the above findings.

Further stating that five encroachers dismantled their structures on their own while the State authorities removed the remaining 25, the eviction was done smoothly.

Meanwhile, three Churches have also been demolished by the Manipur Government in Imphal East district.

These Churches were built on Government land at Tribal Colony in Imphal East.

The demolition of the three 'unauthorised' Churches in Imphal East district of Manipur was carried out in the wee hours of Tuesday (April 11) .

The Churches that were demolished are Catholic Holy Spirit Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church and Evangelical Baptist Convention Church.

The demolitions of the Churches were done with the assistance of police.