The south western zone of the A’chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM), has submitted a complaint to the Chief Forest Officer of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial) yesterday regarding alleged illegal timber smuggling.
The complaint names Jhim Carter M Sangma, a politician, accusing him of entering into an agreement with former MLA Dikkanchi D Shira to exploit 2,200 teak trees on her property for the sum of Rs 1.6 crore.
Only AHAM’s written complaint was shared with the media today, not the supporting documents. However, it goes on to claim that Sangma had, according to the agreement with Shira, undertaken to obtain all legal permissions in the purchase of the trees.
AHAM, though, said that Sangma has not done so but has cut and transported 40 percent of the trees to Assam “without legal documents from the concerned department.”
This violates the Meghalaya Forest (Removal of Timber) Regulations Act 1981, AHAM added, and is negatively impacting land ecology, flora and fauna while also causing a large loss of revenue for the government.
AHAM called on the GHADC and state government to launch an immediate and thorough investigation and take action against any unlawful practices found.
Sangma had last contested the Gambegre seat in last year’s Assembly elections but only garnered a paltry 367 votes. Shira, meanwhile, who AHAM does not accuse of wrongdoing, lost her Mahendraganj seat in those elections.
