The Divisional Forest Officer, Kangpokpi Forest Division, has issued a summon order to the chiefs/chairman/village authority of various villages for a review meeting on the various encroachments and illegal poppy cultivation carried out in the surrounding hill areas of the fringe villages.
According to the Range Forest Officer, HQ, Kangpokpi Forest Division, a combined team of Kangpokpi Forest Division, Kangpokpi District Police, NAB, NCB, and army personnel had recently conducted destruction of poppy plantation in the hill ranges of Phoibung, Thotne, Makuli, Chandraman, Amaledara, Mahabir, L. Thomjang, Mangjol, Kolpechang, Phaijang and Songpehjang.
It was observed that many of the poppy plantation areas fall within notified forest areas of the district while agricultural cultivation was still being carried out by the above fringe villages in the lower reaches of the notified forest hill ranges despite the ban on trespassing and encroachment inside notified forest land, the RFO added.
The RFO also said that an order banning entry, trekking, and camping-related activities inside Reserved Forest was issued vide Office Order No.TEC-FD/3/2022-e-FOR on January 26, 2023.
Trespassing, breaking up of land for non-forestry purposes, and encroachment in Reserved and Protected Forest areas are clear violations of the rules and regulations i.e Indian Forest Act, 1927 read with Manipur Forest Rules, 2021, laid down by the government for protection and conservation of forest land and are punishable under relevant sections of the said laws, the DFO added.
The DFO then said that the Divisional Forest Officer, Kangpokpi Forest Division has issued a summon order to the chiefs/chairman/village authority of the above fringe villages for a review meeting on the various encroachments and illegal poppy cultivation carried out in the surrounding hill areas of these villages.
