DFO leads route march, area domination at Heingang RF
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 27 2024: In a concerted effort to curb encroachment and illegal hill earth excavation, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Central Forest Division, N Ganesh led a route march and area domination exercise at Heingang Reserved Forest (RF) in Mantripukhri on Saturday.

Accompanied by RFOs from the Central Forest Division and over 100 forest staff, the team covered a 15-kilome-tre stretch starting from the Marjing area and proceeding towards Pangei Road, Keirang Muslim, and returning to Marjing Polo Complex.

According to a press communique sent by the DFO, the primary objective of the march was to detect new encroachments and arrest rampant hill earth excavation in forest areas.

The Heingang Reserved Forest, established by the Manipur State Darbar Resolution No 432 dated August 4, 1913, spans an area of 10 square kilometres and falls under the jurisdiction of the Sadar East Range in Khabam Block.

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

It was emphasised 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, and the offenders face six months of imprisonment, a fine of Rs 25,000, or both, along with compensation for the damage caused to the reserved forests.

It was noted that miscreants, under the cover of flood, were carrying out hill earth excavation and depositing the soil in private areas for commercial purposes.

Hill earth excavation is a punishable offense under Sections 26 and 42 of the Indian Forest Act.

To strengthen monitoring and prevention of illegal activities, the team proposed establishing additional checkposts along the boundaries of the Heingang RF.

More than 10 encroachments were detected during the exercise, resulting in the issuance of show-cause notices and the filing of preliminary offense reports against the encroachers.

DFO N Ganesh directed the RFOs to conduct a fresh assessment of encroachers to safeguard the forest.

The forest department remains dedicated to the conservation and restoration of forests.

Ongoing efforts aim to protect the biodiversity and natural resources of all reserved forests, including Heingang RF.

By implementing stricter monitoring measures and engaging local communities and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), the department aims to create a sustainable and secure environment for the inhabitants of the city.

RFOs Kiranjit Yumanm (RO/SW), Jobid Meitei (RO/SE), Robatson Singh (RO/HQ), Tipu Raj Toijam (RO/Nongmaiching), and Raghu Singh (RO/Sawombung) led their respective teams in the march.

The Forest Department appeals to the general public to inform them of any new encroachments or illegal activities, particularly hill earth excavation in the foothills of the reserved forests, to aid in conservation efforts.

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