Encroachment posing threat to Na-duar Reserve Forest

ITAKHOLA, April 8? Thousands of tribal people are earning their livelihood by selling of trees in the reserve forests, despite the Supreme Court ban on felling of trees in the North-east. There are more than 21,596 people settled in the forest areas, cultivating paddy, yam, chilli, etc. When this Correspondent visited the Na-duar Reserve Forest Range in Hatipoti, it was noticed that most of the forest lands have been used by the people settled there. Of late, the forest is much in the news due to exchange of gunfire between timber smugglers and Forests Protection Force personnel. And also the exchange of gunfire between the encroachers and police personnel. The Na-duar Reserve Forest was once known for its rich forest cover. The timber smugglers are running their trade by illegally felling valuable trees. The encroachment of land was started in Naduar forest in 1994 by a section of surrendered militants destroying a large number of forest cover. Most of the valuable forest wealth were siphoned off in connivance with some corrupt police, forest and railway officials. This correspondent also noticed that a large number of felled trees of the Diplanga range of forest were lying near the Hatipoti CRPF camp.