IT News
Imphal, Jan 17:
The Meitei Alliance has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur, with a copy also sent to the Governor, addressing the pressing issue of alleged illegal encroachments and misappropriations in reserved and protected forest areas uncovered during the ongoing Manipur crisis.
The memorandum expressed alarm over widespread irregularities in forest lands, reportedly facilitated by unauthorized officials. Specific cases were highlighted, including encroachments in the K. Songjang Protected Forest and Khuga Reserved Forest in Churachandpur, as well as the Khamenlok Gwaltabi Reserved Forest in Imphal East, which spans 31.08 square kilometers.
The Alliance also pointed out a sharp increase in the number of villages across the state, from 1,957 in 1969 to 3,856 in 2023. It noted that 87.2 percent of this growth occurred in districts predominantly inhabited by Kuki communities, raising concerns about potential illegal settlements in reserved and protected forest areas. Publicly available data on Manipur’s forest land, comprising reserved, protected, and unclassified categories, further suggests that many newly established villages may have encroached upon these designated areas.
The memorandum warned of severe implications if these issues are not addressed urgently. It highlighted the risk of fraudulent compensation claims during land acquisition for national highway projects, which could inadvertently legitimize illegal encroachments. Such developments, it argued, could have long-term environmental and administrative consequences while eroding public trust in the government.
In the memorandum, the Alliance commended Governor A.K. Bhalla for urging the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited to expedite highway projects in Manipur. It urged the state government to undertake comprehensive surveys to rectify land records, prevent fraudulent compensation payouts, and ensure transparent processes.