TURA: Continuing the clampdown on illegal saw mills operating in West Garo Hills, the District Level Special Task Force Committee (DLSTFC) comprising of teams from the District Administration, District Police along with the Forest Department raided several illegal saw mills operating in the district in the last few days.
A highly-place forest official informed that four separate teams of the DLSTFC were deployed at four different locations- Rajabala, Belbari, Masangpani and Ghumaijhora areas of West Garo Hills where they were able to seized and dismantle eight illegal saw mills. The official also informed that cases have also been filed against the offenders in the district courts.
Over the years despite efforts by the Forest Department, illegal sawmills have mushroomed particularly in the border areas of Garo Hills. One of the major reasons for the deforestation in Garo Hills has been the illegal felling of trees for supply of timber to these mills.
It may be recalled that the Supreme Court in its ruling in Writ petition No.202 (civil) of 1995 had ordered a blanket ban on green felling and directed that all licensed saw mills and wood based industries are to be established only in notified industrial estates.
In Garo Hills there are two industrial estates- one in Tura and another in Darugiri of East Garo Hills. Despite the blanket ban the illegal saw mills have continued to be operated illegally. To tackle these illegal saw mills effectively and in conformity with SC guidelines, the formation of Special Task Force Committees at the district level was notified by the State Government for all districts in 2017.
Earlier, the DLSTFC in North Garo Hills had also conducted raids at a number of illegal saw mills located in the district on August 13.