Manipur forest and environment minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar on Tuesday announced that an eviction drive at the encroached reserve forest areas will be carried out after April 10.
Shyamkumar made the announcement after inspecting an encroached area at Ngariyan Reserve Forest on Imphal-Yairipok road, 100 metres from Keirao Wangkhem on Tuesday. The minister, accompanied by department officials, found that the encroachers had put up fencing on the road. The team also found that road was cut to make path near Sera Garden and fencing was put on the road side.
The minister instructed forest department officials to take up necessary action against the encroachers. The encroached area comes under the jurisdiction of the Thoubal Forest Division under Ngariyal Forest Range. He announced that after April 10, the department will start clearing the encroached areas at reserve forests.
Speaking to media persons at Andro Santhei Natural Park, Shyamkumar said that he is trying to include Andro Santhei Natural Park in the world tourist map within the next 2 years.
