Imphal, Nov 11: Rampant excavation being underway at Waithou Hill range at Thoubal district on the sides of NH-102 is killing the green cover of the region, said RK Amarjit, District Forest Officer, Thoubal.
Talking to reporters while inspecting the site, Amarjit said that with the situation going around the lakes in and around the area have became endangered and the once green land is turning into a barren land.
What appears as an obstacle to ban the excavation work is that most of the lands in Waithou Hills have been allotted patta to various individuals
Most the excavations are being carried out in the patta land.
How the forest areas are being allotted to private individuals has been a matter of great surprise to the people. So far none of the officials responsible for allotment of the land to private individuals have been punished and government fails to make any effort to investigate over the matter.
Answering to reporters queries Amarjit said that a case is pending on the civil court on whether excavation being carried out at Waithou Hills belongs to Forest area or private individuals. He appealed the people to stop excavation works until the court case is over.
As per gazette notification of the government of Manipur the said place (Waithou Hills) is protected under Indian Forest Act 1927 and under the Forest Conservation Act 1980 excavation is totally banned. On the other hand as per rulings of the Manipur High Court dated August 30, 2017 and October 11, 2017 no excavation works can be carried out either in the private land or government land if it comes under Reserve Forest Area.
As per report available with this news paper most of the excavation works is being carried out during night time.