TURA: The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council reported move to auction timber from it’s reserves in a bid to raise money has been marked by strong opposition from NGOs.
The A’chik Youth Council has raised strong objection to the move and termed it as an attempt to encourage timber smuggling which has already become a major problem in the region.
In the light of the council unable to pay its employees their salaries for the last 18 months due to a severe fund crunch, the forest department of GHADC recently announced it’s intention to sell timber from it’s reserves.
“We are going to strongly oppose any move by the GHADC to sell timber. Already the council has been unable to protect its forest reserves from timber smuggling and now it wants to encourage timber sale?” Questioned the AYC which is moving for the cancellation of transit permits being issued by GHADC for movement of timber.
“Criminals are using these TPs to ferry illegal timber. The decision to auction timber is nothing short of an invitation for timber smugglers to destroy our already fragile forest cover in Garo Hills,” cautioned the AYC.
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