The Manipur government on Friday decided to move ahead with the land survey work at Khoupum Reserve Forest, which were earlier blocked and thwarted by irate villagers on two occasions after Chief Minister N Biren Singh held a crucial meeting with Churachandpur MLA LM Khaute on the situation arising out of the survey.
Soon after the meeting, Biren tweeted, “We had a productive deliberation regarding the confusion which arose in the survey of the Churachandpur-Khoupum Reserve Forest area. After a thorough discussion we have come to an understanding and further survey will be conducted in consultation with the village chiefs and concerned authorities".
The development comes after the Kuki Students Organisation, Zomi Student’s Federation objected to the survey and stopped officials from conducting it on April 12 at Sielmat village.
It may be mentioned that the villagers of Valpakot and Sielmat blocked all the entrance and exit points of the village to show their resentment and repudiation against surveys being carried out in their village on April 11 and 13.
The survey team led by Tuibong SDO Jangminlen Lupho and Churachandpur ADM S Thienlaljoy Gangte could not go ahead with the survey as the villagers, along with various civil society organizations, strongly opposed the survey.
The student organisations objected to the survey as it was allegedly being done without the consent from the village chief and the concerned village authorities.
Reportedly, when the officials were questioned why the survey was being carried out, they could not give any satisfactory answers.
Meanwhile, the officials had informed the agitating student groups that they were instructed to cross-check the geo-coordinate points of the Khoupum Protected Forest area.
Also Read: MLA asks government to stop surveys, seeks clarification
