GUWAHATI: Digboi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) IFS TC Ranjith Ram has stressed strict adherence to forest provisions to avoid possible revenue losses to the government.
He added that such losses have to be countered at all costs to guarantee the increase of forest revenue, which is vital to sustainable forest management.
In response to queries regarding the abrupt stoppage of the current 40-km-long Digboi-Pengaree-Bordumsa Mohong road project under Asom Mala 2.0, Ranjith made it clear that the construction firm has not received the forest clearance necessary for the job. This procedural step is a must before any work is taken up inside the reserve forest region to prevent legal and financial hassles.
With regard to the deposit of royalty by the company concerned with the project, the DFO reaffirmed that any development or upgradation work in the reserve forest under the Digboi Division is to be sanctioned by the concerned department in advance. The company has been communicated that it should deposit the royalty in advance after the closure of the Zero Transit Permit (TP) system on March 3, 2025.
The Zero TP system has played an important role in helping contractors complete different projects all over Tinsukia district, which accounts for 50 percent of total construction work alone in Assam.
DFO Ranjith pointed out that out of the 400 varied works completed in the entire state, Tinsukia district alone processed 200 under the benefit of Zero TP up to March 3rd. Under this regime, contractors were permitted to utilize forest resources temporarily without paying royalties upfront, as these would be subtracted from their final invoices.
A Conservator of Forest, Eastern Assam Circle, official confirmed the considerable increase in revenue collection in the forest area in Digboi Division during the last few years. The official, who wished to remain anonymous, pointed out that the revenue collection grew almost 14 times in four years, which shows the efficient management of the division and good strategies.
During 2021-22, the revenue collection of the division was around one crore, which doubled in 2022-23 to five crores and increased to a whopping 11.7 crores in 2023-24. The overall forest revenue from various sources keeps going to the state government exchequer now reaches almost 15 crores during the current financial year, a staggering 15 times from 2021-22.
Sources also disclosed that the Assam Public Works Roads Department (PWRD) has reserved a contract value of Rs 1,30,41,00,000 for the Digboi-Pengaree-Bordumsa Mohong road project.
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