Assam: Timber smuggling leads to massive deforestation in Tinsukia
The smugglers carry on the activity in broad daylight and authorities have failed to keep a check on rampant forest destruction in various areas of upper Assam.
By Avik Chakraborty
DIBRUGARH:
Timber smuggling continues unabated at Kundil Kalia forest reserve under the Doomdooma forest division of Tinsukia district, resulting in massive deforestation in the area.
The smugglers carry on the activity in broad daylight and authorities have failed to keep a check on rampant forest destruction in various areas of upper Assam.
According to sources, the Katha trees which are generally used for making colours, are being slashed and smuggled regularly in the area, without any checks.
The Kundil Kalia forest reserve is a primary habitat of eastern Hoolock Gibbon but the rampant deforestation has destroyed the habitat of these gibbons, which has led to a shift in their habitat.
"Not only Kundil Kalia reserve but rampant deforestation has also been reported from forests like Sunpura 12 mile, Hollow Gaon and Deopani RF in Sadiya. The timber smugglers and forest officials are hand in gloves and very often cut down valuable Katha trees from the reserve forest," alleged secretary of an environmental NGO, Debojit Moran.
Moran further stated that timber trucks are plying on roads unchecked, and most of the timber laden trucks directly go to the sawmills of Dhola, where illegal sawmills are functioning without any documents.
Moran said that the mills operating in Dhola procure logs from the reserve forests, but the authorities who are aware of the illegal timber transportation in the area have not taken any step to stop such activities.
According to the principal chief conservator of forest, the reserve forest which was dense and rich in vegetation at one point of time has been reduced to barren land due to the rampant destruction of forest cover.
Speaking to The Northeast Today (TNT), Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Doomdooma Forest Division, Rajib Kumar Das, said, "Forest officials have been engaged in regular patrolling. We are trying our best to stop timber smuggling and tree felling in the area. We launched a combing operation recently at Tarani reserve forest under Khatangpani range and seized many forest products from the smugglers."
(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)
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