Illegal mining still underway
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 08 2018: The Save Environment Campaign Committee has alleged that despite complete prohibition and ban on illegal excavation of stone, sand and forest soils in Manipur by a judgement order passed by the Manipur High Court on July 25, illegal mining are still underway at different parts of the State.

A press release issued by the chairman of the committee M Inaobi Singh today stated that one such illegal mining incident happened recently at Nongmaiching Reserved Forest at Nongpok Sanjenbam area.

It conveyed that after getting information from the villagers, the chairman of the committee visited the site yesterday along with villagers of Sanjenbam.

As per the villagers, the illegal mining of stone/boulders was carried out by influential people close to one MLA of the ruling Government, since the last 15 days in collusion with some local people of the area, it alleged.

Villagers of Nongpok Sanjenbam banned the illegal activities on August 31 but some groups from Khurai Tinsid road blocked the locals of Sanjenbam from passing the road in alleged revenge of the ban imposed by the villagers some days back, it added.

As such, the committee appealed to the people involved in blocking the people of Sanjenbam to immediately revoke their action and warned that the committee will be forced to take the matter upto the authority concerned.

On the other hand, the committee further appealed to the Forest and Environment Department and other law enforcing agencies of the State to translate the hieh Court order into action at the earliest.

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