Over three truckloads of charcoal seized
NONGSTOIN: Continuing their drive against the illegal charcoal business, officials of DFO, Khasi Hills (Territorial Division) seized a huge quantity of charcoal from Rambrai and Mawlangsu villages in West Khasi Hills on Saturday.
Led by Ranger in charge, West Khasi Hills, L. Shangpliang, the officials made the seizure following the surprise inspection carried out with assistance from personnel from the Nongstoin Police Station.
Following the raids carried out as part of the “clean up mission”, the seized charcoal was loaded in as many as three trucks and brought to Shillong.
While two truck load of charcoal was recovered from Rambrai the rest was seized from Mawlangsu.
Sources said that a certain quantity of the seized charcoal was left in a depot in the district for want of more vehicles to transport it.
Media persons from Nongstoin also accompanied the Forest officials, who, yet again dismantled as many as 20 charcoal-making pits along the way from Nongstoin to Rambrai besides those in Mawlangsu.
Interestingly, most of the charcoal depots that existed along the road side at Rambrai was not to be found on Saturday.
According to villagers, following the raid at Seinduli on June 28, most of the depots were shifted to nearby forests and even at the residences of those running the illegal trade.
Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), M. Wan who was also present during the raid said that the surprise checking, which have proved to be a major success since ht time of its initiation, will continue till the time the illegal trade is completely stopped in the district.
According to him around 9 tons of charcoal was seized from Rambrai.
He also said that Forest department will step up vigil along the highway from Nongstoin-Umsawkhwan till Ri-Bhoi to check the menace.
It may be mentioned that the objective of clean up mission is also to create awareness among people on the damage caused to environment by charcoal making.
The campaign against the menace began last month following a The Shillong Times report on illegal trade in West Khasi Hills.