Massive tree felling in Sonaikuchi Reserve Forest

A CORRESPONDENT

JAGIROAD: The unabated deforestation at Sonaikuchi Reserve Forest near here has caused serious concern among nature lovers. According to sources, large-scale illegal felling of valuable teak trees is going on unabated under the very nose of forest officials at Kuthori in the Morigaon district. It is also alleged that forest officials have a nexus with miscreants and as such thousands of valuable teak trees are illegally cut by the miscreants. Further, it is learnt that an inter-state lobby is involved in the trade of illegal timber felling in the forest. The miscreants manage the forest officials and illegally cut trees with the help of machine saws and transport them to Meghalaya, sources allege. The incident came to light when a local youth involved in the illegal felling of trees was shot dead by a forest official recently. The nature lovers called upon the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to take drastic action against the forest officials who have a nexus with miscreants, and check the illegal trade in all the forest areas of the State.

Meanwhile, Water Resource Minister Pijush Hazarika visited the spot and ordered an inquiry into the killing of the local youth by forest guards. He also said that he would inform the Chief Minister of the unabated deforestation.

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