From Our Correspondent
RAKSAMGRE, Sep 13: In a major breakthrough against illegal sawmills in West Garo Hills, forest officials, with the support of district police, seized six illegal sawmills operating under the Raksamgre Civil Sub-Division.
The raid marks a significant step in the preventive actions of the state Forest department, as Raksamgre has long been an area of concern due to its remoteness and proximity to Assam. Smugglers often exploit this location to saw timber and move it quickly across the border.
The operation, launched on Friday based on complaints from various civil society organisations, continued until Saturday morning with confiscated timber and equipment being loaded onto vehicles for transfer to different forest depots.
The coordinated raids, conducted jointly by the Raksamgre Civil Sub-Division, police and Forest department, targeted six sawmills in Belguri, Rongsai, Hatugaon and Pedaldoba.
The operation led to the seizure of large quantities of timber and equipment used in illegal activities. Authorities confirmed that operations are ongoing, with further action planned to curb illegal logging and sawmills in the region.
“This action underscores the government’s commitment to protecting the environment and cracking down on activities that threaten the region’s rich forest resources. The departments involved are very serious about stopping all illegal activities that harm the environment and will continue to work together to ensure the preservation of local ecosystems,” informed DFO (Territorial), Rupankar Marak, following the raid and seizure.
