Timber smuggling flourishing in south Kamrup

AZARA, August 31: Despite the ban on cutting forest trees by the Supreme Court, illegal felling of trees in the entire south Kamrup area has been continuing unabated for the last several years. Wood smuggling has been flourishing at Chhaygaon, Bamunigaon, Kukurmara, Rampur, Loharghat, Chandubi, Rani, Azara, Dharapur, etc., in south Kamrup for the last several years. There are Rani and Mirza reserve forests under Guwahati division while Loharghat, Kulsi, Singra, Boko, Bonapara and Bamunigaon reserve forests fall under Kamrup West division in south Kamrup. Valuable trees like sal, segun, gamari, titasapa, are available in those reserve forests. Wanton destruction of all these valuable trees by a section of smugglers is continuing day and night. The timber is supplied to Bangladesh, Meghalaya and Guwahati and its adjoining areas. It has been learnt from some reliable sources that the valuable trees of Loharghat, Kushi and Rani reserve forests on Assam-Meghalaya border are transported by elephant, and buffalo to Meghalaya and then are again taken to Bangladesh with Meghalaya timber permit. It has also been learnt that the smugglers have set up mini saw mills in some areas inside the hills.