By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Concerned over the frequent use of illegal charcoal in the industries of the State, the State forest department now has planned to take stringent action against the violators.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) VK Nautiyal on Monday said that the department is now planning to come up with a mechanism where the documents of all the industries will be checked as to how much coal have been used for production of ferro-alloys.
“We are enforcing this law and if we find that they are using more than what their transit pass states, then action will be taken against them,” he said.
The Forest department had recently detained 4-5 trucks with illegal charcoal in its step to tackle the problem.
According to Nautiyal, the people who have been detained have connections and they even threatened the Forest department personnel.
It may be mentioned on March 22 at around 11.30 pm, members of RBYF Nongpoh Circle intercepted one charcoal laden truck (ML-10A-3987) along with its driver, J. Marbaniang and helper, Bormet Nongrang at Nongpoh (RB). Later, the truck was handed over to the Forest Department and a case is being registered.
Reacting to a query, he said that the many of the industries in the State had promised of bringing charcoal from South India but now they are utilizing the coal available in the State.
“I will convene a meeting within a week and we will be strict while dealing with this issue,” he added.
It may be mentioned that the Apex Court in the year 2007 had imposed a complete ban on the felling of trees in the State for the production of charcoal.
