Encroachers in Bishnupur warned to vacate

Imphal: District Administration, Bishnupur has issued an order on Monday warning encroachers in the district to remove their structures constructed along roads including highways, river banks and agricultural land.

The order said the district administration has received several reports that the paddy and agricultural lands have been diverted for other non-agricultural purposes in many areas without obtaining approval from the competent authority in contravention to the provisions of the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2014.

SDOs of Nambol, Bishnupur and Moirang has issued show cause notices to many of the holders of such paddy lands where such illegal diversions have occurred and the replies to the show cause notices are found to be unsatisfactory, the government order said.

Encroachment has also been found along the riverbanks and other state lands from the surrounding residents in contravention of the provisions of the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 and Rules thereof.

Unauthorized structures are also reported to have been erected and constructed along the national highways and state roads and thereby reducing the road width and creating lots of public inconveniences, traffic congestions and drainage issues etc.

The deputy commissioner, Bishnupur in exercise of powers conferred under provisions of the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2014 and also Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 and Rules thereof, wherever applicable, direct the concerned encroachers in Bishnupur district to remove all such structures along the national highways, state highways, inter-district roads and other roads etc. and along the river banks located in Bishnupur; and to restore all agricultural lands which have been diverted for non-agricultural activities without approval from the competent authority, to the original positions latest by 3:00 pm of July 12.

Failure to comply with the order shall invite strict penal action under the relevant Act and the concerned landowner or encroachers shall bear all the cost for such restoration and removal of the structures, the order said.