Imphal: An FIR has been registered by the Churachandpur District Police following a complaint from the Water Resource Department, Government of Manipur, regarding the alleged listing of Khuga Reserved Forest land for sale by some Kuki miscreants.
The Divisional Forest Officer of Churachandpur Forest Division had earlier requested a detailed report on the legal status and land ownership of the area from the Churachandpur District Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner then instructed the relevant SDC to submit an inquiry report.
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The incident came to light after a video in the Kuki dialect promoting the sale of plots within the Khuga Reserved Forest as part of an “August offer,” amidst significant deforestation in the area, went viral.
The Manipur Government had declared the Khuga Reserved Forest a protected area under the Manipur Forest Act of 1960 in 1962 to preserve its biodiversity and ecosystem.
The sales advertisement has raised concerns and questions about the enforcement of legal protections for the land and why such illegal transactions are occurring despite these protections.
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