Assam Minister reviews progress of forest, fisheries and excise departments in Dhemaji

By Avik Chakraborty

DIBRUGARH:

Environment and Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, on Friday, reviewed the status and progress of forest, fisheries and excise departments in Dhemaji district.

Reviewing the status of the Environment and Forest department, Suklabaidya asked the officials to free the forest lands from encroachments and instructed the district administration to ensure eviction of encroachers.

Suklabaidya also directed the officials to carry out massive plantation drives in the region under the Green Dhemaji initiative.

Giving details about forest encroachments in the area, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Motiur Rahman, informed that a little over 31,000 hectares of forest land in nine reserve forests in the district have been encroached upon.

The Minister was informed by the DFO that about 60,000 saplings are available for the plantation drive and proposed the conversion of Boba Reserve Forest into a wildlife sanctuary.

The Minister also reviewed the schemes of the Fisheries department and urged the Fisheries Development Officers and Demonstrators to ensure total implementation of PMMSY, RKVF-RAFTAAR, CMSGUY and Ghare Ghare Maach Ghare Ghare Pukhuri for increasing fish production to enhance revenue.

Stating that the district has vast water resources, Suklabaidya told the officials to works towards employment generation in the sector by encouraging commercial fishing.

As for the functioning of the Excise department, the minister instructed the officials to intensify the drive against illicit liquor (sulai) that come through illegal routes.

(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)