Assam Youths Ordered to Plant 5,000 Trees After Clearing Protected Forest

Guwahati: Four youths in Assam's Bongaigaon district have begun a reforestation effort as part of a unique penalty for damaging protected woodland. The forest department ordered the group to plant 5,000 saplings in the Kakoijana Reserve Forest after they admitted to felling two mature teak trees.

Forest Range Officer Sankar Ray initiated the case after detaining Jiban Ray, a local resident suspected of transporting the illegal logs. Under questioning, Jiban Ray implicated four others, Rajib Ray, Kabindra Singha, Manas Ray, and Madhab Ray. After the suspects confessed to the crime, local residents and family members requested a lighter punishment than typical legal proceedings.

Opting for a reformative approach, the forest department reached an agreement with the community to have the youths restore the damaged environment. On Tuesday, the accused joined local volunteers to plant the first 1,500 saplings on a 26-bigha plot of land within the reserve. The plan requires the youths to maintain the site until the trees reach maturity.

Regarding the long-term plan for the area, Forest Range Officer Ray said, "We will achieve our target by planting 5,000 saplings on a 26-bigha plot of the reserve forest, and these accused youths will take care of these plants till they attain maturity."