Thoubal [Manipur], June 13 (HornbillTV): The Manipur Government on Sunday demolished 69 houses constructed within Waithou Protected Forest in Thoubal district of Manipur.

District Forest officer of Thoubal , TH Lokendro said '' As many as 69 houses were completely demolished as the eviction of illegal structures within the Waithou Protected Reserved Forest area under the Thoubal Forest Division.

The eviction drive came three days after Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh convened a joint meeting with officials of the forest and revenue departments wherein he had rebuked the officials over instances of overlapping jurisdiction of land between forest departments and allotting land to encroachers illegally.