18 illegal structures demolished in eviction drive in Manipur

As many as 18 illegal structures in the Heingang Reserve Forest areas of Imphal East district were dismantled on Wednesday as government’s drive against illegal encroachments gained momentum in Manipur.
Authorities of the Manipur government like the forest department and land resource department have been conducting a drive against illegal encroachments on state land and reserved forest areas.
While the district administrations have launched a series of coordinated eviction drives, targeting illegal encroachments on state land, the state forest department has been conducting the drive of removing illegal structures in the reserved forest areas.
Continuing the drive, the Central Forest Division today carried out a large-scale encroachment removal drive in the Heingang Reserve Forest within Imphal East district.
In Wednesday’s operation, a total of 18 illegally constructed structures were dismantled during the drive, officials said. The operation was led by Range Forest Officers (RFO) M Jobid Meitei of Sadar East and S Robatson Singh of Nongmaiching. Officials said the encroachments, threatened the ecological integrity and biodiversity of the reserve.
During the drive, the forest department was assisted by Imphal East district police, whose presence ensured the smooth execution of the drive without any resistance. Forest officials credited the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Imphal East and his team for maintaining law and order throughout the operation.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Vikram Nadhe said that the forest department was committed to forest conservation.
He described reserve forests as “the lungs of the state” and “repositories of natural heritage”, and stressed the importance of safeguarding the forest coverage.
He further stressed the importance of preserving and protecting the Heingang Reserve Forest while describing it as a “biodiversity treasure trove.”
The DFO also urged the public to refrain from encroaching on forest land while asserting that protection of forests was both a legal duty and an ecological necessity.
“Preserving these forests ensures the ecological balance essential for our sustainable future,” he said.
In the last around one month, the authorities of Manipur government have been conducting a drive against illegal encroachment in the state land and reserved forest areas across the state, currently concentrating in the valley districts.
District administrations in the twin capital districts of Imphal East and Imphal and other valley districts like Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur districts have been conducting eviction drives targeting areas of illegal occupation of government lands.
Recently, authorities of Imphal West and Imphal East district administrations have carried out removal of unauthorized structures on government and municipal lands. The authorities also dismantled illegal structures constructed on the banks of rivers flowing passing through the districts.
Among the hill districts, Kangpokpi district recently notified for voluntary removal of illegal structures on government office premises, on the sides of stretches of the national highways and other areas.