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Digboi Forest Department Intercepts Punjab Body Truck Carrying Illicit Timber
In a successful operation conducted by the Digboi Forest Department, a 16-wheeler Punjab body truck loaded with illegal wood was intercepted late in the night on July 15. Acting on information received from confidential sources, forest officials were able to track down the truck and seize the valuable timber.
The truck, registered as AS 01 PC 6282, was apprehended by the forest officials, who immediately launched an investigation. The driver of the truck, caught off guard, claimed to be unaware of the origin and ownership of the wood. He insisted that he was simply transporting it from Arunachal Pradesh to Tinsukia and believed that all the necessary documents were in order, unaware of the illicit nature of the cargo.
This incident follows a recent event in which a tribal group affiliated with the Youth Congress in Margherita, Tinsukia district, handed over an illegal timber-laden truck to the forest department.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been vocal about his commitment to promoting afforestation and protecting the state's natural resources. However, forest giants have persistently engaged in unauthorized logging activities, undermining the government's efforts.
Parag Jyoti Konwa, President of the Tinsukia District Youth Congress, strongly condemned these unlawful activities and called for immediate action from the Digboi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), local police, and the district commissioner. Konwa stressed the urgency of dismantling the illegal wood syndicate and holding those responsible for the destruction of valuable trees accountable.
Debjit Maran, an activist from the Digboi Nature Loving Association Greenward Society, expressed disappointment over the seized truck and criticized certain forest department officials for their alleged involvement in the illegal timber trade. He raised concerns about their exploitation of the names of prominent figures, including Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and Piyush Hazarika, for personal gain.
Maran highlighted that tree-cutting in forests is a criminal act and questioned how these forest giants have been able to operate without detection, profiting from the destruction of valuable trees. He urged the government to conduct a thorough investigation, including scrutinizing vehicles involved in transporting illegal timber, and take appropriate action against those found responsible.
The seized timber-laden truck has been impounded at the Digboi Regional Forest Officer's office. An ongoing investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the illicit timber trade and bring the culprits to justice. The forest department remains committed to cracking down on timber trafficking and preserving the precious forests of Assam.