‘JHADC, KHADC forest officials part of racket’
JOWAI: Large numbers of trucks have been found to be illegally transporting timber from Jaintia Hills and are plying undetected resulting in leakage of huge amount of revenue to both the State government and the JHADC.
Forest officials of both JHADC and KHADC are said to be involved in letting these trucks ply freely with load of timber without any transit pass and transit challan.
Several trucks loaded with timber were detected plying on the Nartiang- Nongpoh road shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Based on a tip off from reliable sources, media person from Jowai detected two trucks (MLO4 A 6647 and ML06 7936) loaded with logs driven by W. Pakma of Kyndongtuber and D. Umdor of Tyrsad village, respectively. Both the trucks were detained by Nartiang police. Another truck laden with timber was detected and seized on the Nangbah- Nartiang road.
Interestingly, the drivers could not produce any valid documents to justify their load. The drivers informed that they had paid Rs.500 each to JHADC forest officials to get the go ahead.
The two trucks were released on Wednesday afternoon. According to the In-charge of Nartiang PIC, the trucks were released after the owner of the timber submitted valid documents.
The drivers informed that the JHADC Forest officials collect Rs.500 from each truck loaded with timber at Nartiang Forest check post and Rs.1000 at Lumkya Forest check post. The drivers further alleged that Mawlasnai police and KHADC Forest staff posted at Umiam also take Rs.500 from every truck loaded with timber to let them pass through.
One of the drivers, W. Pakma, informed that timber was loaded on his truck at Kyndongtuber after which he took the Kyngdongtuber- Nangbah- Nartiang – Nongpoh route to avoid detection by State Forest officials. He revealed that they have a ‘mutual understanding’ with JHADC and KHADC Forest staff and personnel from Mawlasnai police station to allow illegal transportation of timber.
The other driver, D. Umdor informed that he loaded the timber from Mynsngat village and took the same route to reach the Umiam Industrial Estate.
Meanwhile, sources also informed that illegal timber traders are taking the route from Mynsngat to arrive at the Nartiang- Nongpoh road at Lumkya and in the process save Rs.500 by avoiding the Nartiang Forest check post.
JHADC allegedly violates High Court order
Meanwhile, the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council has been allegedly violating the order of the High Court of Meghalaya dated May 3, 2016 which states that, “District Councils have not acceded any right in any of the provisions to set up parallel check posts and then to charge fees in the name of checking of vehicles”.
“The JHADC has set up forest check posts at Shangpung, Nartiang, Lumkya and other places and the council staff are regularly checking vehicles transporting forest produces. The forest staff on duty are also charging and collecting money unofficial and illegally from trucks drivers,” sources alleged.