Shillong, Mar 24: Activists from the Jaintia Hills have issued an ultimatum to the Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial). They are demanding the closure of all illegal saw mills operating in the region within a month or they will stage a public rally to lock them up.
The activists represent the Meghalaya Concerns Citizens, based in the West Jaintia Hills District. They said that there are dozens of saw mills operating all over the place in defiance of all existing forest regulations including the Forest Conservation Act.
In a letter to the DFO (T) on March 18, 2026, Wanbiang Mowa and Kyrmenskhem Siangshai, representing the organisation said that the saw mills operate freely in many places including Tum Tum, Sahsniang, Mowtyrchuah, Mowkaiaw, Mukhap, Saphai, Iooksi, Umpleng, Sookilo, Khliehriat, Wahiajer, Nartiang Barato and others. These villages are located in Laskein, Thadlaskein, Saipung and Lumshnong blocks and others.
The letter said that these saw mills are operating in blatant violation of the forest laws and seem to have no fear of the authorities who are supposed to ensure that the use of forests and timber are regulated in a sustainable manner. The destruction of the forests is causing irreparable environmental and ecosystem damage, they said.
They wanted the DFO’s office to investigate how these saw mills continued to operate despite having no license from them.
They also told the DFO that the legal sawmills which are operating in Khliehtyrshi should stop selling their Transit Permits (TP) to the illegal saw-mills using which they transport timber on the highways.
They warned the DFO (T) that if this continues the public will hold a rally in the compound of the DFO’s office. Not only that, they issued a warning that they will start blocking the vehicles carrying timber on the highways and even if they show the TPs they will not be allowed to proceed.
They also said that the situation is such that they want the DFO to act against the illegal sawmills, because as they pointed out many of these illegal sawmills make an outer image of being furniture makers.
“But we people are not bluffed,” they said in a message to Highland Post.
“The Government says it spends crores on planting trees but these illegal sawmills mow down huge swaths of forests for timber making many hill ranges in the Jaintia Hills tree-less and barren with no thought for the future of the people who rely on nature and forests for their survival ” they said.
They also said that these are happening because of the greed of a few persons who are selfishly amassing wealth for themselves at the cost of the common people who live and survive on the forest systems.
They also said that if the forest department ignores these demands from the public any situation that may arise out of public ire will solely be the responsibility of the authorities. “They cannot blame the public for wanting to protect their forests and the public cannot be blamed for wanting the forest department and the authorities to stop illegal operation of saw mills, ” they added.
