East Kamrup forests falling to mafia axe

Locals allege timber mafia-forester nexus at Sopur range

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

DIMORIA, July 24: Assam is fast losing its verdant green cover due to illegal felling of trees by timber mafia right under the nose of the authorities concerned, despite new State Forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma’s vow of protecting forests at any cost.

Thanks to callous forest officials, rampant tree felling continues in forest ranges under West Kamrup Forest Division. Now, reports of large-scale tree felling are coming from Sopur Forest Range under East Kamrup Forest Division.

The issue came to light on Sunday when some locals of the area visiting Marakdola Forest IB under Sopur Forest Range saw to their utter surprise that many valuable trees like Segun have been felled there, despite the area coming under Sopur Forest Range.

Talking later to mediapersons, some locals alleged that large-scale tree felling is taking place in the area by timber smugglers in cahoots with a section of corrupt forest officials. They demanded an enquiry into the whole issue and uncover this unholy nexus.

Last year too, many trees were felled in the same area and the then forest minister Etuwa Munda visited the spot to take stock of the situation, but nothing changed on the ground since then.