GUWAHATI, June 30: The Assam forest department has launched a statewide mission to identify, seize and permanently shut down all illegal sawmills operating across the state, warning that strict departmental action will be taken against officials who fail to act against illegal operations in their respective jurisdictions.
Addressing people through a Facebook Live session on Tuesday, state forest minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said protecting Assam’s forests and biodiversity is a collective responsibility and asserted that the government is committed to preventing illegal logging and safeguarding the state’s forest resources.
The forest department has instructed all divisional forest officers (DFOs), range officers and other field officials to launch an intensive enforcement drive across every forest division.
The operation is already underway, with officials directed to identify, seize and shut down illegal sawmills, particularly those operating in remote and interior areas where illegally felled timber is often processed.
The minister said every illegal sawmill must be seized immediately and all illegally stored timber confiscated.
Officials have also been instructed to submit geo-tagged photographs and detailed division-wise and range-wise daily reports on enforcement action taken.
The forest minister said licensed sawmills would also be subjected to rigorous inspections to ensure they operate strictly within the limits of their approved licences.
Officials have been directed to verify that no unauthorised machinery has been installed and that all timber stocks are supported by valid Transit Passes (TP), GST invoices, e-Way Bills and other mandatory legal documents.
He warned that any range officer or DFO in whose jurisdiction illegal sawmills continue to operate, would be held personally accountable and face departmental proceedings.
“We have launched this drive in mission mode. Our objective is to ensure that every illegal sawmill across Assam is shut down within the coming week,” the minister said.
Expressing concern over reports of illegal timber being transported from forest areas, particularly from Goalpara across the Brahmaputra to remote locations such as Baghbar, Mallabaruah stated the government would not allow organised forest destruction to continue.
He appealed to citizens to report the location of illegal sawmills and provide photographs or other evidence. A dedicated helpline number, 94352-04444, has been activated through which information can be shared confidentially.
He also urged people to report any instances of collusion between departmental officials and illegal sawmill operators, assuring that strict action would follow.
The minister further announced that the department would now monitor the entire timber supply chain, including end users.
He said action would also be initiated against individuals or commercial establishments found using timber without valid transit passes, GST documentation or other legally required records.
