Massive deforestation in the heart of Diphu town

From a Correspondent

Diphu, March 31: A fresh instance of massive clearing of green cover is going on in Matipung District Council Reserve Forest situated in Diphu town under Central Range of West Division Forest Department.

Around 40 hectares of reserve forest land has been cleared and destroyed completely, said Range Officer Mondol Engleng. The lackadaisical response by the forest department has allegedly led to this massive loss of forest land. A timely intervention into the matter could have prevented the forest areas from being completely destroyed.

All the turally grown trees and medicil plants had been felled off and uprooted from the forest land completely. In the past, locals from Diphu town had attempted to encroach the land for domestic use and other commercial purposes, as the value of the land in the town area is very high. However, those attempts had been foiled.

But ever since this new incident of encroachment has come to light, tension has been brewing as the place has been the hotspot of many intruders who have been eyeing to encroach the land since the past three years.

When confronted by the media as to how the forestl and could be destroyed overnight in the heart of Diphu town amidst heavy forest security presence, the Forest Range Officer, Mondol Engleng, responded by saying that he had no idea how it all happened. He said the trees were felled at midnight when the protection party was off duty. When he was pushed to the wall with questions, he alleged MP Biren Sing Engti’s brother direct involvement and alleged that the MP’s brother was responsible for all these massive clearing of forest areas. When he was asked about the me of the brother, he refused to talk further.

When asked why no action had been taken against the MP’s brother, the Range Officer said that he had informed his higher authorities and it was their prerogative to take the necessary action.

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