Illegal charcoal transportation: Forest officials conniving with mafia in WKH

NONGSTOIN, March 13: The timber mafia in West Khasi Hills and the Forest officials of the district are allegedly conniving in illegally transporting charcoal from the district and the activity is apparently rapidly growing, especially in Rambrai which produces tonnes of charcoal annually, due to the absence of a Territorial Division of the Forest department.
According to sources, the mafia would transport the charcoal only during night to escape detection by the police or any other agency until last year, but it is now being done in broad daylight. They attributed the absence of a Territorial Division to the reason behind illegal transportation of charcoal as the district has only the Social Forestry Division which has no authority to apprehend criminals.
When enquired whether troops patrol the area, sources revealed the charcoal mafias operate their business with connivance of Forest officials. Asked to disclose the name(s) of the officials involved, they refused.
The government has been actively campaigning and even encouraging schoolchildren to preserve natural resources, especially trees, as a way of containing climate change and preventing disasters like floods, but such efforts are destined to end in futility if the mafia continues to have its way.
Recently, after a team of Forest department raided a charcoal burning pit, the perpetrators stopped their operation for three-four days, only to return and resume the activity.
Some of them have even shifted their charcoal products to far-off places to avoid detection.
If rampant illegal transportation of charcoal continues without an effort from the Forest department or the district administration to end the illegalities, West Khasi Hills is perhaps bound to lose its beauty.