IMPHAL, July 9: All nine district Superintendents of Police have been instructed to look into the genuineness of certificate of the saw mills which are mushrooming in the state, particularly in nearby forest areas. The decision was taken by the Congress Legislative Party in a meeting held today.
According to a source, the CLP meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s Office bungalow this evening at around 4 pm today. The meeting discussed on the vast deforestation of forest in the hill areas of Manipur.
It also took note of the mushrooming saw mills pursuing timber business. There has been a rapid increase in the rate of forest depletion in recent times. For instance the forest in the Koubru range needs to be protected from human encroacher in order to preserve it, the meeting noted according to the source.
The CLP has instructed the SP of all districts to conduct a verification of the existing saw mills presently operating nearby the forest areas, to chedked whether the mill owners have proper documents, the source added.
It was observed that villages should not be allowed to be set up in fertile agricultural lands.
The meeting has elected Th Devendro, Forest and Environment Minister as the Chief Whip for the Congress Party for the upcoming Assembly Session. The meeting has decided to hold a review meeting for the discussion today on July 12 2014.