The Wokha district administration led a team to inspect the encroached lands at the Merapani forest range after there were reports of lands being allotted through lottery by encroachers. (Photo Courtesy: @MmhonlumoKikon / Twitter)
Morung Express News
Kohima | May 23
A team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Wokha inspected parts of the Merapani Forest Range which were reportedly being auctioned off through a lottery by encroachers.
MLA & Advisor, IT, Science and Technology, NRE, Mnhonlumo Kiko tweeted on May 24 that the Wokha DC led a team of officials to verify the forest land encroachment under Merapani Forest Range with the DFO Wokha.
“District administration will initiate strict action. All village councils have extended cooperation,” Kikon added.
Sources had earlier informed that a lottery draw was held to allot land for a new village in the area. The people involved, as per a reliable source, are “some well to-do people trying to encroach on government lands big time.”
The Divisional Forest Officer of Wokha (DFO) had also issued a public notice on May 22 taking note of land encroachment at Yimparasa, Bhandari and Longayim “by some unscrupulous individuals and groups.”
The notice had stated that despite repeated directives both from the Forest Department and the district administration, illegal activities are still being carried out.
It had cautioned that anyone found guilty of encroachment, sale and/or purchase of the said lands will be doing so at their own risk and encroachers will be liable to be booked.
The notice also cautioned that any village council found committing/abetting such encroachment would also be held responsible and necessary action would be taken to curtail development fund for those villages thereafter.
