KOKRAJHAR, May 11 – Inspite of several landmark initiatives and the new policies and the boasts of the Department of Forests, Govt of Assam, destruction of forests throughout lower Assam is unabated and Kokrajhar district is not lagging behind. Wanton destruction of forests in Kokrajhar district which cover more than 1.5 lakh hectare reserve forest right from Ripu, etc has been seriously damaged by the timber mafia where people from all sectors even from enlightened groups to daily workers hankering after the timber resources.
The destruction scenario has come to such a state that Bisiram Narzary, EM of BTAD who is also incharge of Forest department came down to the field to get first hand experience and information regarding the matter. Recently he along with other officers seized and caught redhanded huge number of green timber logs, bullock carts, etc from different parts of Hattirgaon, Kachugaon forest divisions. Nature lovers and concious citizens praised such activities and highly lauded the EM for his bold steps and appealed to look into the matter seriously and hoped that the BTC administration will take urgent action to curb such illegal smuggling of valuable treasures of BTC.
This grim situation is common everywhere in the district where there is forest cover. It is common everywhere even on National Highway, city, markets, railway, buses even through rivers, wetlands where from new sewi timbers to round logs, fire woods are transported round the clock openly. If the situation remains as such, the remaining patches of forest cover will vanish soon. A joint effort is needed from the Dept of Forests, NGOs other govt deptt, individuals, intellectuals, and political leaders with a genuine interest in conservation, restoration and protection of the forest and its resources right now. The poor infrastructure of the forest department alone came at combat the huge task of protetion of the forest resources.
It may be mentioned here that the reserve forest of Ripu and Chinang is one of the richest forests and recognised the part of north-eastern hot spot zone and buffer zone of Manas Tiger resources and recently declared elephant reserves and also famous for top quality sal and bonsom trees. Moreover, the evergreen and semi-evergreen tropical forest of Ultapani range is the best natural habitat of endemic world famous Golden Langurs.