Continuing their efforts to stop the rampant illegal timber trade in the districts of West, South and South West Garo Hills, a Forest Department team today busted another illegal sawmill operating in the village of Darengchigre, Photamati, near Tikrikilla, close to the border with Assam.
The Tikrikilla area has allegedly become one of the main centres of the illegal timber trade with more than 20 such factories. Most of the timber for these illegal mills comes from the many forests that surround the border town of Tikrikilla, which falls under West Garo Hills.
“We received inputs from reliable sources of illegal sawmills being operated in the village of Darengchigre and were able to successfully raid one such operation. The operation was led by the range officer, foresters and guards,” said the District Forest Officer in charge of the West, South and South West Garo Hills Territorial Division, Rupanker Marak.
The operation today lasted several hours and also managed to identify the persons involved in the illegal establishment.
Appreciating the efforts of the forest personnel, the DFO said, “Various varieties of sal and non-sal logs along with machinery were confiscated from the spot.”
