Shillong, Aug 28: The AYWO Garobadha Regional Branch has detected timber smuggling and handed over a vehicle loaded with logs to the authorities.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the AYWO said it is a glaring fact that for more than a decade, the practice of illegal cutting down of trees and unabated illegal supply and transportation of timber logs to the neighbouring state Assam from Garo Hills, is going on.
In multiple times, many organisations apprehended illegal transportations. As the watchdog of any wrongdoings in our society, delegation of AYWO members on receiving information from local residents about the illegal transportation, rushed to the spot and apprehended one bolero pickup bearing the registration number ML 08 G 3739 , loaded with illegal timber logs at Damalgre Mellim road , that was supposed to be transported to Assam, without a single valid document neither from state forest department nor from the forest department of GHADC ,Tura”, the AYWO said.
“Thereafter, we handed over the loaded Bolero pickup to Forest Department of GHADC, in the presence of the Range Officer,Tura Range and then it was goven to the Chief Forest Officer ,GHADC Tura”, aid Mackenseng Sangma, president, AYWO Garobadha Regional Branch.
In some parts of West and South West Garo Hills like Mellim, Amindagre (Gambegre), Damalgre, Rangsakhona, Maljanggre, Nogapara, Gongglanggre, Boldoka, Kalchengpara, Mangchim under Selsella Block and even from Mukdangra and Dengasi, a large number of illegal cutting down trees can be seen.
Many Acts and rules to protect and prevent environment by the Centre as well as state government have passed, but the unabated and illegal flow of timber logs to neighbouring Assam is going on and the cartel of this kind is making the ‘mockery of Parliament” which is the highest law making platform to protect the mother nature.
“The presence and enactment of laws proved futile if the concerned law does not serve the very purpose of protecting the mother nature”, the AYWO said.
The NGO said cutting down trees not only causes deforestation, but will lead to soil erosions, degradation and even lands becoming deserts.
Multiple natural disasters, which ultimately contribute to significant and unpredictable climate changes to a large extent and even influence globally are also the results.
“We the AYWO Garobadha Regional Branch , vehemently oppose such cruel act, towards our environment and commited to protect and prevent this illegal and inhumane act against the environment”,the NGO said.
