IMPHAL, June 6: The All Manipur Govt Drivers’ And Technicians’ Association has notified in a statement that a team of six members led by its president Dr O Nobo Singh has left Imphal for New Delhi today to take part in the 4th National Conference of the All India State Govt Driver’s Federation to be held on June 8 at New Delhi.
Manipur High Court prohibits quarrying activity in Sekmai River
IMPHAL, June 6: A division bench of the High Court of Manipur comprising of Chief Justice, Abhay Manohar Sapre and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotishwar Singh has today issued a notice of motion returnable within two weeks in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed for issuance of a Writ in the nature of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order or direction to the State respondents to enforce and implement the Manipur Flood Plain Zoning Act, 1978 effectively by appointing Flood Plain Zoning Authority under Section 3(3) of the Manipur Flood Plain Zoning Act, 1978 so as to prohibit any act of quarrying activity in Sekmai River, said a release of Human Rights Law Network (Manipur).
According to the release, the PIL was filed jointly by Angom Rajesh Singh of Awang Sekmai Khunou; Khwairakpam Chandramani Singh of Awang Sekmai Mayai Leikai; Yumlembam Ibohal Singh of Awang Sekmai Mayai Leikai and Meihoubam Manoj Singh of Awang Sekmai Makha Leikai.
In the said PIL, the petitioners contended that despite the enactment of an Act entitled” Manipur Flood Plain Zoning Act, 1978 by the Government of Manipur to provide for the zoning of the flood plains of rivers in the State of Manipur, the actual implementation of the provisions of the said Act has not been made till date, the release said.
Further the Petitioners also contended that the uncontrolled quarrying of coarse sand, stone, gravels etc has massively and severely affected the livelihood of the entire villages of Sekmai which for all reasons since time immemorial have been dependant on the resources emanating from Sekmai River for irrigation and ground water storage in their domestic wells whereby such uncontrolled quarrying has drastically caused the falling down of water table, it said.
Meihoubam Rakesh, advocate has appeared on behalf of the Petitioners and the present PIL is filed under the active initiative of Human Rights Law Network, it added.