Claim over THANGJING HILLS treated as Non- Est; No records of so called ‘Haokip Reserved’: Manipur Govt

Imphal: The Government of Manipur has treated the claim made by the Chief of Ukha-Loikhal Village dated February 16, 2024, regarding the Thangjing Hills as non-est.

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R.K. Amarjit Singh, Special Secretary (Forest, Envt. & CC), Government of Manipur issued a notification to this effect by orders and in the name of the Governor of Manipur on Monday. It said that the claim made by the individual is fabricated and concocted one with a mala-fide intention to mislead the general public. The same has no locus standi and hence treated as non-est. The state government also stated that there are no records of the so called Haokip Reserved notified under any Resolution/Act/Rules as per records maintained by the State Government contrary to the claim made by the self-proclaimed Chief. The state government made it clear that Thangjing (Thang Ching) is a hill of historical importance and because of which Government of Manipur had declared it as a protected site under section 4 of the Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1976.

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The notification says,

1. WHEREAS, Chief of the so called Ukha-Loikhal Village has made a claim dated 16.02.2024 regarding Thangjing Hills.
2. AND WHEREAS, the present day Thangjing Hill Range falls within the Churachandpur-Khoupum Protected Forests which was notified on 17.09.1966, vide Notification No. 55/10/66-M(2) under Section 29 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. The present day Ukha-Loikhai settlement falls within the boundary of this Protected Forest.
3. AND WHEREAS, the order for setting apart of Ukha-Loikhai from the Churachandpur-Khoupum Protected Forest was cancelled, vide Office-Memorandum No. 1/46/2018/Forests, dated 07.11.2022, of the PCCF & HoFF, Manipur. Fresh inquiry in this regard has already been initiated by the State Government.
4. AND WHEREAS, there are no records of the so called “Haokip Reserved” notified under any Resolution/Act/Rules as per records maintained by the State Government contrary to the claim made by the self-proclaimed Chief.

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5. AND WHEREAS, Thangjing (Thang Ching) is a hill of historical importance because of which Government of Manipur had declared it as a protected site under section 4 of the Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1976, vide Gazette No.376 dated 14/11/2022.

6. NOW, THEREFORE, the claim made by the individual is fabricated and concocted one with a mala-fide intention to mislead the general public. The same has no locus standi and hence treated as non-est.

7. This is issued with the approval of the Competent Authority.

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