In a clear example of an environmental catastrophe, a reserve forest in North Garo Hills has turned into grassland after smugglers wreaked havoc, leaving almost no trees within.
The Chimabangsi Reserve Forest was once the pride of the local populace with the forest cover being so thick that people feared entering it. However, environmentalists will be deeply saddened by the current state.
The reserve forest, which is about 2,200 hectares in size, now faces a double blow, as locals have moved into the denuded area and occupied nearly one-quarter of the reserve.
“There are claims being made by locals and Nokmas of the area, who have occupied many places by cutting down entire forest areas. We are fighting to save these lands,” said the District Forest Officer, Satish Kumar.
“We are catching timber trucks on a daily basis and these are being seized. However, local miscreants along with smugglers have continued to defy authorities and pleas to stop the felling of trees. The situation is hopeless,” Kumar said.
The forest was filled with high value sal and teak trees – one of the principal reasons for the assault on it by locals in conjunction with smugglers. Furthermore, the proximity of Assam, where most of the illegal timber lands up, is another reason for the massive loss of tree cover.
“You can see more than 50-60 seized timber trucks in the Dainadubi range office, which is an indicator that the Forest Department is trying its best,” Kumar stated. “However, with there being more than three to four routes through which the illegal timber goes through, it becomes humanly impossible to check the outflow.”
The situation is expected to get worse before it gets better.
“We are looking to reforest the reserve and it has become critical to be able to reclaim the illegally occupied land from those that are claiming it. The forest can return but there has to be a more concerted effort from all parties to make that happen,” the DFO added.
Some locals felt that the department needs to buck up to stop the trend of timber felling.
“This area, even a year ago, had hundreds more trees than it has today, which is a shame. The days are getting hotter due to the loss of forest cover and everyone feels it except for the greedy smugglers along with some local miscreants who have taken the destruction of the reserve as their sole aim in life,” said one local from Dainadubi.
