TB and Leprosy Treatment Centre Fresh land demarcation carried out
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 13 2015 : Acting on the directive of the Principal bench of National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, the State Revenue Department has carried out a fresh demarcation of 0.956 hectares of land for the proposed TB and Leprosy Treatment Centre at the foothills of Lamlongei under Langol Reserved Forest range.

The demarcation was carried out by officials of State Revenue Department in the presence of SDC Heingang, Nongthombam Suran; Kh Babulindra, OSD Legal, Medical Directorate; Deputy Conservator of Forest, L Joykumar Singh and advocate counsel of the petitioner L Roshmani and the applicant Th (O) Ratna Devi.

The demarcation work started at 11 am today.

During the demarcation, officials came across numerous unauthorised constructions/structures in and around the area, violating the norms laid down by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, GoI for construction works on reserved forest areas.

When asked about the ruling of the National Green Tribunal on destruction of unauthorized constructions, an official told reporters that demolition works are to be conducted by authorities concerned.

As per the directive given by the Court to the State to demolish buildings and structures constructed beyond the allotted area, counsel of the applicant L Roshmani said that authority concerned should follow the rightful step within the given time frame.

He added that if the Govt agencies fail to take up demolition works on illegal structures, then they will approach the Court again.

Speaking to media persons, one of the locals wondered under whose instruction or supervision the deforestation works was carried out in the Langol Reserve Forest range.

Such works have led to severe changes in and around the area causing severe damages to the environment and the ecology of the forest.

Furthermore, the locals raised the question against the action of Okram Henry, who excavated a large quantity of forest soil from the said area disturbing the ecological balance of the reserved forest land using heavy machinery during the construction of the unauthorized structures.

Another local resident expressed that people of the area are in constant fear of severe mud-slide which could occur at any moment as large quantity of soil have been removed from the hill.

It may be mentioned that the Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal, New Delhi directed the State Government to conduct fresh demarcation with respect to 0.956 hectares of land at Lamlongei under Langol reserved forest area for the construction of Leprosy and TB Treatment Centre on April 7 after the locals of Lamlongei Yaipha Thouda Nupi Marup approached the Court against the deforestation and construction of structures at reserved forest range against the State Government and others concerned on December 16 last year.

After the hearing of both defense and petitioner counsels, the Court directed the Revenue Department of the State to conduct fresh demarcation within two weeks from the order issued on April 6 .

The Court in the order directed the State Govt to demolish any construction work beyond the area.

It may also be mentioned that the deforestation and construction of buildings in the said area started a few days after the visit of Chief Minister O Ibobi on May 9 last year.

The CM then assured for resettlement of more than 100 displaced houses of Lei-Ingkhol.

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