Aizawl: A meeting of special investigation team (SIT) of south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district for protection and conservation of riverine reserve forests and reserve forest areas under the jurisdiction of the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) and the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) was held on Monday.District deputy commissioner Donny Lalruatsanga said every possible effort must be made to safeguard these forest areas.The DC stressed the need to verify whether any ‘land passes’ had been issued within reserve forest areas and riverine reserve forest areas. Accordingly, he specifically instructed the senior revenue officers of both the LADC and CADC to conduct a thorough verification.It was decided in the meeting that field verification would be carried out to determine the existence of any ‘land passes’ within the riverine reserve forests.Under the CADC jurisdiction, inspections will be conducted within an 800-metre stretch from Tuichawng river near the Bangladesh border, while under LADC jurisdiction, inspections will be carried out within 800 metres along Myanmar border rivers Chhimtuipui, Tuichawng (LADC Area), and Sekulh.The verification exercise will be jointly undertaken by the revenue and forest departments of LADC and CADC over three weeks.Once the verification is completed and the final report is prepared, it will be submitted to the Mizoram govt.
