Encroachers 'invade' Langol Reserved Forest

Imphal, May 14: Due to unchecked encroachment and alleged issue of land allotment orders to encroachers by the Settlement and Land Records Department, the original area of the Langol Reserved Forest has been reduced by 50 percent. said a source in the State Forest Department. A large portion of the 7.45 sq kms area of the reserved forest which serves as the "green lungs" of Imphal valley has been occupied by new settlers and the 'forest area' has shrunk to a mere 350 hectares. Besides large scale deforestation of the Langol Hills has been going on, he said. Contending that encroaching and issuing allotment orders of the reserved forest land amount to violation of the Forest Policy of the Government, the source emphasized the importance of preserving Langol Forest for the sake of a clean and healthy environ in Imphal city. Due to the failure to provide protection to the forest, most portion of the forest has become devoid of vegetation and soil erosion has become a major feature. Besides the surrounding areas at the foothills face flooding frequently as a result of deforestation, he said adding the Government should frame a special plan for the preservation of the forest and planting of saplings should begin immediately. The source further said the Settlement and Land Records Dept should stop issuing land, allotment orders at random. Stating that the number of saw mills came down to 111 from 206 in 1996 after the Supreme Court banned felling of timber, he said the Industries and Commerce Dept has stopped issuing saw mill licence. However, there has been reports of the spurt in illegal saw mills and immediate attention of the Industries Dept is needed in this regard, he said. He said the Centre approved 2 saw mills each in Tamenglong district and Jiribam, 3 each in Chandel and Ukhrul, 5 in Thoubal, 7 in Bishnupur, 4 in Senapati and the rest of the ill mills in Imphal East and West district. To a question on the setting up of saw mills inside the reserved forest area against the ban of SC, the Forest Dept source said it should also be checked by the Industries Dept. It may be mentioned that around 4 saw mills are functioning inside Kanglatongbi-Kangpokpi Reserved Forest area along NH 39 currently. Pointing out that the resource of the Forest Dept has decreased considerably after the SC ban, he said the dept could collect Rs 96 lacs from minor forest products while the revenue from major forest products was nil in the previous year. It said around 30,100 cubic metres of felled timber remained un-transported when the SC ban became effective in 1996. Of these, around 18,000 cubic mts of timber having a value of around Rs 1.2 crores have been lost as the Centre delayed its transportation order while around 6000 cubic metres have been auctioned. Another 3000 cubic mts have been lying in the hills, he added. It may he recalled that a House Committee instituted during the W Nipamacha regime had already made aerial survey of the felled timbers.