A CORRESPONDENT
TANGLA: Illegal band sawmills and sizing saw machines have sprung up in various parts of Udalguri and Darrang districts.
Based on specific inputs,Mazbat Forest Range,Bornadi Wildlife Range under Dhansiri Forest Division of Udalguri launched a raid operation on Tuesday morning in Khajua Beel,Jakwapara, Koupati areas in borders of Udalguri and Darrang districts and seized several machines and timbers from illegal band sawmills. The operation was led by ACF Dhirendranath Basumatary; and Mazbat Forest Range Officer, Mintu Boro.
"We have recovered three generators,three band sawmills along with a large cache of valuable timber and a number of bicycles used to ferry timbers," said Range Officer,MintuBoro. He further added that no persons running the illegal mills could be arrested as they fled from the scene. Sources said that nefarious circles have set up several such band sawmills in the Udalguri district as these sawmills need very small places for their operations and are handy too.
"The illegal timber milling and smuggling have been going on for long time which have also made the licensed timber mill owners incur loss of revenue as despite tip-offs to forest officials they hardly act," said a proprietor of a licensed timber mill requesting anonymity. Pertinently, according to Assam Wood-based Industries (Establishment and Regulations) Rules, 2000, barring in permitted areas, one cannot set up or operate a band sawmill.
Also Watch: