IMPHAL — The Imphal West district administration, along with security personnel and revenue officers, conducted an eviction drive on Sunday to remove unauthorised structures and encroachment from public roads and footpaths.

Led by Deputy Commissioner Mayanglambam Rajkumar Singh, the Imphal West district administration conducted the eviction drive following a July 4 order to remove unauthorised occupancy of public spaces, roads, and footpaths that obstructed traffic and posed safety risks.

The DC expressed disappointment over the rampant misuse of public infrastructure, particularly footpaths that have been taken over for business and private use.

Singh said that despite multiple eviction notices in 2022, 2024, 2025, and most recently on July 4, illegal occupation continued. Encroachers were given until July 11 to vacate voluntarily, but with no compliance, the district administration began the eviction process from Keishampat to Malom along Tiddim Road.

Informing that similar drives will also be carried out in other areas, including the Uripok stretch, he DC went on to state that removal charges for the dismantled structures and debris would be recovered from the owners.

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However, if the charges are not paid within 10 days of notice, further penal action will be initiated, he stated.

The DC further urged the public to support the efforts initiated by the district administration, urging them to help preserve public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and drainage systems for the collective benefit of society.

Additional DC, K Jadumani Singh, of Imphal West district, who was also present at the site, reiterated that the eviction drive aims to clear roadside and footpath encroachments, emphasising that previous notices had instructed the public to remove obstructions.

He noted that the piling of construction materials, wires, tyres and construction of unauthorised business structures obstructed free public movement and adversely affected the overall law and order situation.

During the drive, numerous illegal structures including signboards, tin sheds and street vendor stalls and other construction materials were demolished and removed.

Earlier on Friday, the deputy commissioner of Jiribam had also issued a directive for the removal of illegal structures, debris, and other encroachments from Jiribam town areas and public spaces. Jiribam borders Assam's Cachar district.

The move comes in response to rising concerns over public inconvenience, traffic obstruction, and safety hazards caused by such illegal encroachments.