Illegal smuggling of timber through benami transaction
By Our Reporter
Shillong: The Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) has served a 10-day deadline to the state forest department to intervene into the practice of benami transaction at Ri Bhoi district particularly relating to the operation of saw mills in the area.
After submitting a memorandum to the Forest Minister Prestone Tyngsong here on Friday, HANM Western Zone president Kodious Khongni alleged that the saw mills in the district are being run by non-tribals in the name of local tribals paving the way for illegal transportation of around 4000-5000 cubic metres of timber from the State to Assam everyday and even the wildlife sanctuary at Nongkynrih village is not being spared.
Demanding the government to take serious note on the presence of benami transaction, the HANM stated that failure to meet the said deadline will result in a series of agitation by the organisation.
Alleging the involvement of the check gates’ personnel of the forest department and the Khasi Autonomous District Council (KHADC) in allowing these illegal forest items to pass through to Assam, Khongni said “The involvement of the said organizations indicate the sorry state of law enforcement here”.
Sources have also informed that there is an illegal collection of money monthly by the forest and KHADC personnel, Khongni stated.
The HANM alleged that out of the 49 saw mills in the area, 34 are being run by non-tribals from Assam in the name of the local tribals while the rest are being shut down for lack of timber or furniture units. The HANM, meanwhile urged the KHADC to scrutinize the documents properly before issuing trading licenses.
When asked about the procedure in which the NOC was granted by the Dorbar Shnong, the HANM informed that the NOC and the sannat from the Syiem of Nongkhlaw, Jirang and Nongspung is granted to the locals who seek the same on behalf of the traders from Assam.
Recently, the HAMN had seized several trucks carrying timber at Jirang market after it was found that the vehicles possessed no legal documents to support the road trip.
“Three days after the seizure, the rich merchants came with full force with the help of the Patharkhmah police outpost claiming back the items which had been seized”, the HAMN president said.
The organization also suspected that the said merchants have managed to get away with this illegal business so far by bribing many NGOs, police and forests officials.