Lower Assam saar (riverine) areas turn into a hub of 'forest offences'

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: It's a fact that most of the saar (riverine) areas in Goalpara, Barpeta, Dhubri, Nalbari and Kamrup districts have turned into 'hubs of forest offences'.

With the mushroom installation of portable saw mills, most of such saars are agog with activities that come under 'Forest offences' like sawing of timber of trees which are illegally felled and transported, poaching etc.

Official sources even claim that timber sawn in such saars even go to the market in Bangladesh via the Brahmaputra. More often than not, Forest personnel have to face fierce attacks from a section of miscreant saar dwellers, said official sources.

According to official sources, the modus operandi they follow is that they illegally transport trees felled in different forest reserves to their saars via several rivers including the Beki, the Manas and the Brahmaputra. From the rivers they carry the timber to their saar areas by tying them under bamboo rafts. Traditionally belonging to a riparian community, they know a whole lot tricks to dodge the Forest and River Police personnel.

In his recent report submitted to the higher authorities of the State, the CCF (Chief Conservator of Forest) of Central Assam Circle depicted the true picture of 'Forest Offences' taking place in many such saars. According to the CCF report, as and when Forest personnel go the saars on boats the miscreants see them from afar and keep the portable saw mills buried under the sand. What's fraught with danger for the Forest officials, according to the CCF's report, is that the people in most of the saars get into a huddle and become violent at little provocation. "They're political very sensitive," the report said.

"From the records of the last three to four years, it is seen that these areas have been involved in the forest offences, and activities like felling of trees, transporting timber through rivers, establishing illegal saw mills are taking place in these areas... These are vast areas with poor communication making them very insecure and unsafe for the execution of Forest Act and Rules," the report said, and added, "...it was found that there's involvement of all in the society in such illegal acts."

The CCF has told the higher authorities in his report that as and when Forest officials go for search operations in such saars, the department needs a full-fledged and well equipped force. He suggested to the higher authorities to float a special task force comprising personnel from the River Police, Forest officials and Revenue officials, besides the setting up of more riverine camps. He has also sought adequate number of motor boats and similar other vehicles for conducting frequent patrolling in the rivers.

Another important suggestion from the CCF is deputation of at least 50 AFPF (Assam Forest Protection Force) personnel in each of Kamrup, Kamrup West and Goalpara forest divisions so that they can accompany forest officials during search operations in the saar areas.   

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