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Timber smuggling unabated in Karbi Anglong forest

By brahma2011 |

Timber smugglers have been holding sway in Karbi Anglong reserve forests. Illegal trade of timbers has been unabated in the Karbi Anglong hill district. Many valuable logs are being supplied to Nagaland nighbouring State of Assam.


Besides, illegal timber Sawmills are appeared mushrooming along the Karbi Anglong-Nagaon border areas, basically such illegal Sawmills have been running openly at Samurali, Chowdhury bazaar and Zinda bazaar areas of Nagaon district which places are adjacent to Howraghat. The timber smugglers operating in the Karbi Anglong forest reserves since long causing large-scale deforestation.


The illegal trade of timber has flourished in the State as well as in Karbi Anglong hill district for several years now despite a Supreme Court ban, primarily because of the absence of an effective and cohesive joint mechanism between the forest officials of the Karbi Anglong and Nagaon district. As a result, timber smuggling and transportation are continuing unabated openly in Karbi Anglong hill district since past couple of year and posing a threat to the ecological balance of entire the district.



It is worth mentioning that taking advantage of the slack administration of the Forest department; many valuable trees are being felled regularly in Karbi Anglong reserve forests and supplied daily by the timber smugglers in support some local people to the different parts of the State and as well as its nighbouring Nagaland State too. Besides, as the rain starts in summer season, the felled logs are tied up in rafts and sent down through the Jamuna river to the respective illegal bench-saw mills set up along the Karbi Anglong-Nagaon district areas. Though sometimes logs carried by the smugglers were being seized by Karbi Anglong forest, yet the cutting of trees and supplying of timbers have not been stopped.


It may be mentioned here that on Wednesday night too, the Bakaliaghat police under the leadership of Khargeswar Bordoloi, SI, managed to nab two persons from Shilveta Langmili area while they were loading timbers in a truck.


According to police report, though two were detained the other timber smugglers managed to flee from the spot. From the possession, a truck registration bearing No AS-09C/3348 was seized and the two detainees were identified as Nanda Yadav and Ajit Mahatu.


On the other hand, while replying the questions of reporters, SI, Bordoloi revealed on the ongoing timber smuggling in Karbi Anglong. But it is amazing that despite having the specific reports regarding the illegally running sawmills in the Nagaon-Karbi Anglong border areas, both the districts are failing to stop the illegal activities due to the absence of an effective and cohesive joint mechanism.


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