How bureaucratic red tape breeds illegality in Assam?

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Strange it may sound but it's a fact that if a man wants to fell a tree grown on his own land by himself he may not get the permission in four or five months even as there is a provision to get the permission in just 16 days. If the man wants to do the job illegally, he can do it instantly. This is a perfect case study showing how bureaucratic red tape breeds illegality in the State.

The government encourages people to plant valuable trees like sal and segun among other varieties on their own land as the move will help them accrue financial benefits when the need arises, besides maintaining the ecological balance. Driven by such encouragements, people plant such valuable trees in the rear and front sides of their houses.

However, all troubles start unfolding when such a grower is in dire need of money and wants to fell a tree grown by him, say for his daughter's marriage or for making furniture. The standing rule is that if a person applies to the DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) for felling a tree on his own, the DFO should issue him the 'Certificate of Origin' within 16 days, failing which fines will be slapped on the DFO. A circular to this effect was published under the 'Ease of Doing Business Act' in 2018-19.

However, what's happening in the State is strange. After receiving such an application, the DFO concerned sends it to the Range Officer who then forwards it to the Circle Officer.

But the fact remains that even if the concerned person regularly pursues the file, he's not sure of getting the 'Certificate of Origin' in five or six months. This is because the circular has not been properly circulated. Besides, most of the DFO officials are not aware of this circular.

It is crystal clear that bureaucratic red tape breeds illegality in the State. In the present case, people are forced to opt for the illegal course – felling the tree without permission and get it sawn with a sawing mill illegally as in the legal course they are made to suffer for no fault of theirs.

The 'Certificate of Origin' is a must for a saw mill to legally saw a timber.

Setting up of wood-based industries is talk of the day in Assam. However, the rule amended by the Central government three years back to help the wood-based industries grow in various States has not been notified in Assam as yet. Since saw mills are attached to wood-based industries in many ways, the Centre had to amend the relevant Act three years ago. In accordance with the amended rules of the Central Act, all State Cabinets have to approve the rules and notify them for execution. In the absence of such amended rules, the State Forest department has been following the outdated Act.

According to sources, the State Forest department had sent the draft of the amended Rules to Dispur for approval long back. However, the draft has been sent from one department to another for the last three years; and it has not been placed before the Cabinet as yet.

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