Illegal sawmills under scanner

SHILLONG: Three pressure groups from Jaintia Hills– Hynniewtrep Students’ Union (HSU), Khasi Jaintia Hills Union (KJNU) and Chadooh Ri-Jaintia Wamaia (CRJM) have alleged illegal activities in the state forest department over trucks transporting timber.
Addressing the press on Thursday, student leader Kyrshan Rymbai said that the Forest Ranger, C. Najiar, from the state forest department issued transit pass (TP) to illegal sawmills in the name of M/S Evergreen Sawmill Khlieh Tyrshi Industries Estate which is a registered sawmill industry.
He said that TPs are issued at Khlieh Tyrshi whereas the trucks are loaded with timber at Nartiang in West Jaintia Hills and claimed a nexus between Evergreen Sawmill and Najiar.
Rymbai informed that there are 100 illegal sawmills
and 10 trucks transport illegal timber in a day allegedly under the nose of the forest department.
The three organizations have also filed an FIR at Mawryngkneng, East Khasi Hills on September 24, alleging that on September 23, a 12-wheeled truck, AS 01 GC 2825 transported timber from an illegal sawmill at Nartiang at 10 am.
They complaint against the Evergreen Sawmill Khlieh Tyrshi Industries Estate was as to how it can issue TP to an illegal sawmill at Nartiang.
The three organizations also claimed to have evidence of the illegal activities. They alleged that the Industries’ estate loaded materials from the illegal sawmill at Nartiang.