Manipur announces major eviction drive to prevent frequent flooding

IMPHAL — The government of Manipur has announced eviction drive to remove unauthorised structures along the five important river and channels in and around Imphal, in an attempt to prevent frequent flooding of the adjoining areas and localities.

The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Imphal West district, Th Kirankumar, issued an order on July 11, stating that ‘unauthorised occupancy by construction of structures in the form of houses/shops/sheds/installation of water pumps sets or other structures on permanent basis, earth filling etc. along various river and water channels — Waisel Maril, Turel amanbi, Naga turel, Chandranadi and Mera khong — have obstructed the natural flow of the water and accelerated flooding in many localities’.

It added that such structures need to be evicted on priority basis to prevent further flooding of the adjoining localities on one hand and protection of river on the other.

All such illegal occupation of government khas lands and state lands adjoining the National Highways, state roads, inter village roads (IVR) and drains would be vacated by the encroachers latest by July 21, 2024, failing which removal and eviction will be carried out by the concerned authorities without further notice, it warned.

Meanwhile, Imphal East DC Kh Diana Devi also directed illegal encroachers in the district to vacate their structures by July 17, warning that failing to comply with the directive will result in eviction by the authorities/magistrates/Line Departments concerned without further notice.

Moreover, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Imphal West, Shamim Ahmad Shah, also listed 74 roads within Imphal West district and instructed Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) of Lamphel/Patsoi/Wangoi to conduct field surveys for identification of encroachers over state land and carry out eviction.

The 74 roads identified for the survey come under Sagolband, Uripok, Khagempalli, Thangmeiband, Singjamei, Takyel Khongbal, Meitei Langol, Changangei, Keishamthong, Mongshangei, Langthabal, Naoriya Pakhanglakpa, Oinam Thingel, Lalambung and Bijoy Govinda areas.

The ADC also directed the SDOs to take up necessary action for eviction of the encroachers and removal of unauthorized structures constructed over such land within their jurisdiction.

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