Illegal sawmill operating in West Jaintia Hills

JOWAI: Despite the ban on setting up of sawmills outside the Industrial Estate located at Khliehtyrshi in West Jaintia Hills, several illegal sawmills are found to be operational in the district particularly in Laskein Block in areas such as Mookaiaw and Sahsniang.
Sources informed that these sawmills are operating illegally as no license is issued to any individual to set up sawmill outside the Industrial Estate. “It is the order of the Supreme Court that only those who have valid license can set up a saw mill within the Industrial Estate,” the sources added.
Only a handful of people have obtained the license from the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment, to run sawmills within the Industrial Estate premises.
While traveling from Jowai to Sahsniang, one will witness many such illegal establishments. Sawmills are generally set up a small distance away from the road. Some sawmills cannot be seen from the road as they are hidden behind thick vegetation.
Sources also informed that most of these illegal sawmills are registered as furniture units but are operating otherwise. Planks and other timbers products are transported illegally in trucks fully covered with tarpaulin.
On many occasions, some NGO members detect such illegal activities and report the same to the Forest department for necessary action. The Forest department has also seized several trucks of timber products, but failed to locate the source of such illegal activities.
Meanwhile, sources informed that recently an order was received by the Forest department in Jowai to check such illegal sawmills; however, the concerned department is yet to act on the order.