SILCHAR: Minister for Environment and Forest, Parimal Suklabaidya reviewed the status of forest schemes and projects in all the three districts of Barak Valley in Silchar on Saturday.
Chairing a review meeting at Cachar Deputy Commissioner's conference hall with MLAs, Deputy Commissioner, PCCF cum HoFF, CCF, DFOs and other range officials, Minister Suklabaidya said strict vigil must be kept on forest land and no encroachment must take place. "A strict vigil has to be maintained so that there is no encroachment on forest land," he quipped.
The Minister also took stock of encroachment from neighbouring Mizoram in some bordering areas of Hailakandi and Karimganj districts. Eviction of encroachers from forest land also figured in the meeting.
He instructed the district administration and forest officials to keep a close watch in every village area so that 'no person comes from outside and if anyone is settled that person has to strictly follow forest rules and regulations'.
Suklabaidya also underscored the need for plantation drive on priority basis, particularly during the rainy season in all the three districts of the valley. He asked the officials to take immediate stringent action against those involved in illegal cutting or felling of trees and those operating illegal band saw mills and to book the offenders under relevant provisions of law.
The Minister called for a coordinated and pragmatic approach by all the DFOs and Forest Range Officers in association with the administrations of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts to put a stop to all illegal activities, freeing forest land from encroachers and bringing more and more areas under plantations in order to make Assam a pollution free State.
The meeting discussed about the status of sand mahals in the three districts and creation of new mahals to generate revenue. Creation of a Wildlife Division in the Barak Valley also came up in the meeting with Minister Suklabaidya directing the senior officials to expedite the process, stated a press release.