Deforestation in Jeypore rainforest: ADC raps Forest Department

NAHARKATIA: After the repeated news on the ongoing deforestation in the Jeypore forest under the Dihing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary published by The Sentinel for couple of days, an important meeting was held on Wednesday at the Naharkatiya Revenue Circle Office under the auspices of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dibrugarh, Rajiv Thapa with Jeypore Forest department and Jeypore Police.

In this meeting, the Additional Deputy Commissioner questioned the Forest Department on the veracity of the news. The forest officials acknowledged that these reports and the photos published were true. After acknowledgement by the forest official, the Additional DC said that as per the decision taken in the meeting which was held under the auspices of Dibrugarh Deputy Commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha on August 13, 2020 at Jeypore Forest Range office, regular patrolling in the forest was the top priority decision.

ADC Thapa instructed forest officials to keep regular patrolling in the forest and submit the detailed report of patrolling before the Naharkatia Circle Officer every day. The report of the activities of the forest department from August 14 till date should be submitted to the Naharkatia Circle Officer by Wednesday evening, the ADC instructed.

He also instructed police to activate their network and ensure close monitoring of illegal activity in the Jeypore area. ADC Thapa also instructed forest officials to work with honesty and to take strong legal action against those which were involved in deforestation of Jeypore Rainforest. The ADC asked the forest department as well as police to seize illegal saw mills in Naharkatia, Jeypore and Namrup areas.

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