OUR CORRESPONDENT
KOKRAJHAR: Massive destruction of forests and encroachment are going on unabated in Ultapani reserve forest along the Bhutan border under Haltugaon Forest division in the Kokrajhar district. Fresh encroachments and felling of trees are seen in many new areas which is posing a serious threat to ecological imbalances and the ecosystem.
A group of journalists from Kokrajhar based on some inputs of illegal encroachment on Tuesday visited Ultapani reserve forest and Saralpara area along the Indo-Bhutan border and found that the illegal felling of trees and encroachment in many new areas are taking place under the nose of the forest range office situated at Ultapani. In the first place, the encroachers fell trees and clear jungles and then start encroaching. Several hundred hectares of forest land have been encroached upon illegally by encroachers. Felling and cutting of trees are going on in new areas.
Talking to reporters, the encroachers said they had been living in Ultapani reserve forest since 2014 and encroachment was continuing by people coming from different places. They said that at least 23 villages have been set up inside the reserve forest where people coming from Kashiabari, Gossaigaon, Dhekiajuli of Sonitpur, Udalguri and some from Nagaland have settled in the forest land. The encroachers first cut the big trees, clear the jungle and then encroach upon the land, they said, adding that the forest department had earlier carried out eviction drives three times but the encroachers again resettled there.
It is seen that some of the encroachers have set up sawmills inside the reserve forest and supply sawn timber logs to different destinations. The big trees felled by encroachers are collected and taken to saw mills and subsequently supplied to other places. The forest department has hardly taken any action against the illegal timber suppliers.
Illegal settlers in the Ultaoani -Saralpara area have started commercializing the process of occupying forest lands. They never work on their land but sell their occupied lands to capitalists of Kokrajhar and other places at high rates. They then look for new areas to occupy forest land. Today most of the lands in the Saralpara area along the Indo-Bhutan border have gone to well-to-do people of various professions of Kokrajhar town who are planting betel nuts everywhere. Many high-profile individuals of Kokrajhar town and other parts have land in the reserve forest for future business plans.
Getting the reports of continuous encroachments in Ultapani -Saralpara, the CEM of BTC, Pramod Boro on Thursday made it clear that there would be no excuse for illegal encroachments and illegal activities inside the reserve forest. He said that the eviction drive would be carried out in that area within the first week of April.
The EM of Forest, BTC, Ranjit Basumatary during an interview with media persons at Patgaon a couple of weeks ago said there would be no compromise against illegal encroachers and illegal activities anywhere. He clarified that the eviction would be carried out in Saralpara and Ultapani sectors.
Also Watch: