TURA: Illegal felling of trees in reserve forests of Garo Hills has been continuing despite vigil by forest department personnel.
This week, wanton felling of young sal and teak trees took place in the Rongjeng reserve forest of East Garo Hills.
The felling was discovered when a cowherd went into the forest to bring back his cows that had been left tied to a tree to graze. To his shock he discovered that the young tree had been felled to land upon his cow and killing it.
Locals allege that the place where the felling took place is barely 5 km from the forest beat office and a sub-beat office inside the reserve has allegedly been lying unused for several years.
The illegal felling is reportedly the work of unscrupulous locals with support from smugglers in neighbouring Assam who purchase the illegal consignment.
“Timber is being smuggled right under the nose of the authorities since they make use of the same road that every other commuter uses. How is this possible unless money is changing hands for its smooth passage?” questioned local NGO leader from Rongjeng Mukesh M Sangma while speaking to media persons.
Concerned citizens also revealed that an illegal sawmill has recently been set up nearby Mangsang village ostensibly to target the little remaining forest cover inside Rongjeng reserve forest.
The role of some forest staff in this timber racket has not been ruled out and citizens are demanding that those manning the forest must be taken to task if felling is taking place under their ‘watchful’ eyes.
