DERGAON, April 21 — Strong resentment prevails among the leading citizens as well as nature lovers of Golaghat district over an order passed by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Golaghat. By the order, the DFO banned noted botanist as well as the head of the Deptt of Botany of DR College, Golaghat Dr Padmeswar Gogoi from entering the Nambar Forest, Golaghat.
According to information Dr Padmeswar Gogoi along with one nature activist. Arup Ballav Goswami reached Garampani beat office on April 7 to visit the North Nambar forest after giving information to the Range Officer Golaghat. But the forest officers in the Garampani beat office informed that the DFO had banned Dr Gogoi and some others entering the forest. It may be mentioned Dr Gogoi is a member of Forest Policy Draft Committee set by the Govt of Assam, 2002. Dr Gogoi is also busy at the conservation of Nambar Forest. Under his guidance many students have taken PhD degree and some others are working towards the degree. A botanist of British museum Christopher Frezar Zen Kins had named one fern as holipoteris gogi after Dr Gogoi. According to information received, a memorandum was submitted to the forest minister Pradyut Bordoloi to protect Nambar Forest along with the photographs of hand sawing of timbers in the forest, on October 28, 2002. The memorandum was signed also by Dr Padmeswar Gogoi along with some other individuals.
The illegal and ‘anti-nature’ act of the DFO against the scientist ‘termed as’ Mobile Encyclopedia of north-east has been widely criticised and strict action has been demanded against the officer. Ex-minister Soneswar Bora, All Assam Journalist Association, Sewj Dharitri, Dergaon Science Society etc have condemned the action. Due to the DFO being out of station his comments could not be taken.