‘Govt. working out for eviction of encroachers to RF area; High way Protection Force in the pipeline’

IT News
Imphal, July 24: Churachandpur district has the largest Reserved Forest (RF) area in the state which has total of 37 RF covering an area of 984.25 sq km. The district has five reserved forest (5 RF) covering 338.32 sq km while Bishnupur district has the smallest RF area in the state with three (3) RF covering an area of 0.90 sq km. Among the hill districts, Senapati has 8 RFs and is the second largest with an 253.89 sq km while Chandel has 3 RF and is the least with just 141.86 sq km.
This was stated by Forest and Environment Minister Th. Shyamkumar while replying to a question asked by K Meghachandra Singh during question hour in the ongoing state assembly session today.
Replying to another question, the minister said that people cannot construct houses and settle in the reserved forest areas.
Stating that eviction notices have been served to the encroachers, the Minister informed that a total of 85 encroachers, 53 from Heingang reserved forest and 32 from Langol reserve forest have been evicted.
“Revenue department has been requested to cancel the Dag Chittas issued by them inside RFs to avoid legal complicacy”, the Minister said. He further said that wide publicity has also been done to make the encroachers leave the RF area voluntarily. Appeal against the eviction notices by the encroachers have also been processing for cancellation as per law of the land. Shyamkumar also said that regular patrolling by staffs are done as measure to identify any new encroachment in Reserve Forest area.
Highway Security:
Replying to a question asked by opposition MLA Kh. Joykishan regarding security of the National Highways of Manipur, Chief Minister N Biren, who is also the leader of the house informed that the state govt. is all set to establish a ‘Highway Protection Force’ by raising the Indian Reserve Battalion. However the government is waiting for approval from the Union Government, he added.
State Transport:
N Biren Singh informed the house that the state govt. is actively working for re-introduction of the state transport services in the remaining hill districts.
Responding to a question on the state transport services, the Chief Minister informed the state transport department has earmarked around Rs. 11 cr. for regular transport services under Manipur State Transport (MST) in the state.  However, as of now as immediate measure the government had sanction a sum of Rs. 5 crore for revival of the MST.
Clarifying to a query by Congress MLA Okram Henry, N Biren said that the MST is exclusively run by state govt. and at present there are fifteen buses in service; 1) Ring Round City Bus Service (4 buses) and 2) Inter- District Bus Service (11 buses) connecting Imphal to Kakching (2 buses), Imphal to Yairipok (2 buses), Imphal to Moirang (2 buses), Imphal to Moreh (2 buses), Imphal to Noney (2 buses) and Imphal to Pherzawl (2 buses). He further added that efforts are being made to invite and involve participation of private operators at a later stage when acceptable modality gets finalized.