IT News
Imphal, July 4,
An eviction of encroachers from the reserve forest areas at Awaching in Imphal East is supported by dak Chithas and pattas issued by the authorities which declare the area to be a Revenue Village in a blatant violation of laws for use and occupation of reserve forests determined by the Reserve Forest Act of 1990 and Indian Forest Act, 1875, a statement to the media from the Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress Committee (MPTCC) said today. The inhabitants of the village have also relevant Aadhar Cards, Ration Cards, and a school for children has also been established in the forest area, it was stated while calling for the questioning of the government officials involved in the tampering of lawful details.
The relocation of the affected people in the eviction drive by the land authorities should not overlook the immediate needs of the inhabitants and inconveniences caused to them should be compensated by providing adequate relief and rehabilitation, the MPTCC said while demanding an humanitarian approach in implementing the same.
The statement also pointed at the irony of selective eviction drives carried out along the banks of important rivers of the state, although the laws governing the river banks clearly state that no permanent structure can be put-up on the river banks. There are innumerable permanent structures on the river banks and even on the river bed at places like Koirengei, Naoremthong, and Iroishemba that have been put up with approval from powerful people including political leaders, the MPTCC statement added while making a demand for the quick demolition of these structures.
Agricultural lands have become a target for commercial, and industrial use and the indiscriminate putting up of unorganized dwelling structures has endangered vast tracts of agricultural land which are actually meant for the survival of the farmers, the MPTCC said.
