Guwahati: Timber smugglers are tearing through the Dibru-Saikhowa forest in Assam to fuel a black market charcoal operation. They work under the cover of the monsoon, cutting down valuable trees despite state promises to stop forest crimes. The thieves stockpile wood in secret spots before moving it by boat down the Brahmaputra River to nearby islands. They burn the timber partially and bury it in silt for days to create the charcoal.
This illegal fuel flows into Dibrugarh daily. It stocks local homes, hotels, roadside eateries, and blacksmith shops. Several tonnes reach the black market every day, selling for roughly 600 rupees per sack. Locals now point fingers at the Forest Department and district administration, wondering how the trade continues while Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah pushes for strict enforcement. People want to know if the criminals have help from the inside.
Residents have demanded a high-level inquiry into the alleged illegal charcoal network and immediate action to curb the destruction of forests and the thriving black-market trade in charcoal. The situation remains tense as the community questions the protection of their forests, asking, "who is behind the alleged racket and whether the operators are enjoying official patronage."
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