Concern over illegal timber smuggling

From a Correspondent
Dibrugarh, April 30: Various organisations of the district on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner MS Manivann to protest against illegal logging. The memorandum was jointly submitted by the organizations to oppose the logging of various illegal trades like timber transport, coal transport, cattle transport, oil transport, rice transport and gambling. The memoran -dum stated that some uuthorised traders supply timber to timber mills, procured from different reserve forests. This timber is then supplied to different saw mills at night through trucks. Likewise, uuthorized traders also sell cattle after stealing from various areas and supply them to outside areas. Expressing severe concern, the organizations stated that these trades result in environmental and tural disturbances, which may further lead to other illegal activities in the district. Demanding immediate ban on such illegal logging within two weeks’time, the organizations cautioned the district authority of stern agitation if the former failed to take the necessary actions. They have urged the district administration to sanction an order for all the logging transport departments to carry their goods , without covering their respective vehicles hoods, for visibility of transported logging goods. Copies of the memorandum were sent to the Superintendent of Police, District Forest Officer (DFO), Director General of Police (DGP), and CCF.