TURA, May 31 – The mini industrial township of Mendipather in East Garo Hills, that borders Goalpara district of Assam, has, since some years ago, been a booming trading centre with timber and coal being its main export. It still is though to a lesser extend thanks to the Supreme Court ban on felling of trees. However, the situation seems to be returning to its earlier days if one takes into account the rise in number of illegal saw mills in and around Mendipather.
As per the claims of an organisation, the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Mendipather Circle, there are approximately seven saw mills operating illegally till date. The mills are being run throughout the day and night sawing timber that is brought in by smugglers from nearby state reserve forests. On an average five to six trucks laden with timber are brought in to the mills from the reserves. With the easy access to illegal timber a number of furniture shops have also mushroomed in the area. Many of these shops do not have the requisite licence to operate.
The operation of these saw mills have led timber smugglers to be further encouraged in their activities and there is fear that rampant felling will soon lead to an ecological imbalance of the region. The FKJGP have written to the DFO (Territorial) of Garo Hills division, Tura, seeking the immediate closure of the sawmills.
It is interesting to note that such illegal felling and smuggling of timber is prevailing in other state reserve forests of Garo Hills also. One can purchase his required quota of timber from places like Songsak, Rongjeng, Chibinang, Siju and Balpakram areas where there are forest plantations. There is little or no inspection of lorries that carry timber concealed under other items. There are also instances of Paramilitary and state police personnel, particularly officers, being involved in purchase of illegal timber for their own consumption. Despite all these instances and the state government alloting a budget for the Forest Department to preserve the reserves and pay its staff to safeguard them the Forest Department in Garo Hills has failed to fulfill its obligations.