TURA: In the light of large scale illegal felling of trees orchestrated by unscrupulous criminals, authorities has launched a major crackdown on illegal saw mills that fuel the demand for the precious timber.
North Garo Hills district which shares a long border with Assam and has a high number of illegal timber mills was meticulously targeted by authorities. Police along with state forest teams raided several places where the saw mills were being operated from seizing heavy machinery and timber on Friday.
Teams of the Special Task Force set up for this purpose launched a series of operations raiding the illegal saw mills in Resubelapara, Mendipather and Bajengdoba region.
During the raid, authorities found that the saw mill operators had been tipped off about the operation and had tried to hide the machinery inside in orchards and residential areas. A thorough serach led to the recovery of the hidden equipments.
The operation led to the sealing of six 6 saw mills, one each in Resubelpara and Bajengdoba and four in the Mendipather region.
The operation also had its tense moments when one of the task force teams leading the raid being attacked by the illegal saw mill operators in the Nalbari area of Mendipather.
Cases have been registered with Mendipather police against the attackers and the saw mill operators.
Meghalaya’s forest cover has been greatly reduced in view of the continuing acts of deforestation by miscreants. While Garo Hills has been severely affected by these illegal acts, West Khasi Hills has literally lost all its green cover as rampant tree felling has been going on right under the noses of authorities.
Local sources from WKH have confirmed at least about 200 timber trucks moving into neighbouring Assam from the district every night.
For West Garo Hills, the plain belt, including the areas around Phulbari and Chibinang (close to the Assam border) has seen the mushrooming of a huge number of saw mills – all of which allegedly are running despite a ban against them.