Illegal Sawmills Reportedly Operating in Dhubri Despite State Crackdown

Guwahati: Five to ten illegal sawmills run openly in the Takimari area of Jambari village. They operate round the clock. Locals claim the units process massive loads of Sal and Teak logs. These logs likely come from Goalpara district and nearby Meghalaya.

The Assam government maintains a statewide push against timber smuggling. Yet, enforcement skips Takimari. Residents and activists see the disconnect. They demand the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department inspect the site immediately. If the mills operate illegally, they want the state to take strict legal action against those responsible.

Environmental experts issued a stark warning about the regional impact. "The continued operation of illegal sawmills could accelerate deforestation, strengthen illegal logging networks and pose a serious threat to the region's forest resources and biodiversity."

The Dhubri Forest Department dismantled various mills across the district recently. They seized large amounts of timber during these sweeps. Still, those specific units near Jambari village remain untouched. The Forest Department has not released an official response to these allegations.