Imphal, March 23: A total area of 1.25 acres belonging to the Imphal East District Agriculture Office (DAO) complex was found illegally occupied by the locals residing adjacent to the office complex during an inspection conducted today.

The inspection team which consisted of Agriculture Minister K Ranjit and some of the Department's officials inspected the Office's complex today following complaints made by the Dist Agriculture Officer RK Noyonsana that a large number of locals were illegally occupying a portion of the Office's plot besides constructing road inside the complex.

During the course of the inspection it was found that total area of the complex which was about 3.60 acres had been reduced to only 2.35 acres due to encroachment of the locals residing adjacent to the office complex.

Mention may be made here that the State Revenue Department by issuing an order on April 7 1982 had given a plot measuring 3.60 acres to the Agriculture Department.

The Depart also paid a sum of Rs 80,000 as premium to the Govt for the land.

Talking to the locals, who had gathered to witness the inspection drive today, Agriculture Minister K Ranjit stated that it is his duty to preserve and protect the plot of the DAO as he was the Agriculture Minister of the State and added that the drive was being taken in the interest of the farmers of Imphal East district.

Asserting there was no harm in giving away some portion of the office's complex for constructing roads in the interest of the people residing around the office's complex, Minister Ranjit however add-ed that it would be very wrong on the part of the public to encroach the office's plot by constructing houses, ponds and fencing.

He further said that the Govt would do everything within its means to evict the encroachers.

Encroaching inside the office's plot will only pose problems to the farmers of the area, said the Minister.

Informing that demarcation would be done on the office complex very soon, Minister appealed to all the encroachers to vacate the office plot immediately failing which strong actions would be taken up to evict them.

Interacting with media-persons after the inspection, the Minister reiterated that his Dept will leave no stones unturned to evict the encroachers within a short period.

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