Two sand-laden trucks seized at Margherita

From a Correspondent

MARGHERITA, Feb 13: Margherita West Range Forest officer Dhimanshu Saikia and other forest staff on Monday seized two trucks illegally carrying sand from Makum qilla Lama Ghat.

The two trucks bearing registration numbers AS 01 EC 1857 and AS 23 BC 3489 were carrying sand belonging to Mantu Kalita of Margherita. Under Digboi Forest Division, there are many sand mahals but Babul Hall Sand Mahal which falls under Lekhapani Forest Range has got legal tender to extract sand whereas Alubari, Dibong, Makum qilla lama Gaon, Baragolai, Maulang and Jagun Ghat are the sand mahals which do not have tender but sand mafia, with the help of forest department officials, are extracting sand from these sand mahals and a large amount of money is allegedly given as commission to forest officials by the sand mafia.

Conscious people of Margherita have appealed to the Forest Minister of Assam to take strict against these corrupt forest staff and officials of Digboi Forest Division.