Shyamkumar
File image of Manipur minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar.

Forest and Environment Minister of Manipur Thounaojam Shyamkumar on Friday announced that the illegal encroachers at the Langol Hill Range around Imphal will be evicted soon.

Informing that the State forest department has already intimated the revenue department to check the land deeds, he said necessary action will be followed soon.

Forest Minister Shyamkumar was speaking at the inauguration of the low cost water supply system, Langol constructed by the FDA, Central Forest Division with the assistance of National Medicinal Plant Board(NMPB), Government of India at the Lamdeng Mayai Leikai village in Imphal West district. The low cost water supply system will cover 200 households of the village.

Minister Shyamkumar further appreciated the villagers and Forest Department officials for their continuous efforts in keeping the area green and contributing in protection and conservation of forest and wildlife.

Shyamkumar who also holds the urban development portfolio also sought one month time from the villagers to take necessary action over the foul smell coming out from the Lamdeng solid waste management plant disturbing the villagers.

He said although the solid waste management plant is very necessary project but it should not affect the daily life of the locals. He also assured that he will visit the place along with department officials and experts soon to solve the matter at the earliest.

In his speech, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, K Angami lauded the villagers and elders of the Lamdeng village, members of Joint Forest Management Committee, and members of Self Help Groups for their support to the Forest Department. He said the sincere Forest Department officials have been contributing immensely contributing in saving forest from illegal felling, fire among others which are impossible without the support of the villagers.

On the other hand Chief Conservator of Forests Th Mohendra Pratap Singh said that the low cost water supply system at the Lamdeng Mayai Lekai has been constructed under the NMPB fund of Rs 8 lakhs and it will give benefit to the people of the locality as the water was naturally originates from the Lamdeng Lokchao area.

Later the Forest Minister along with the Forest Department officials met the Self Help Groups of the locality and inspected their work sites. Conservator of Forests L Joykumar Singh, DFO Central Forest Division RK Amarjit Singh,officials of Forest Department and villagers of Lamdeng attended the day’s function.

Sobhapati Samom is Northeast Now Correspondent in Imphal. He can be reached at: [email protected]