Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: Residents living near the Assam-Meghalaya border are raising alarms over continued illegal timber smuggling in the Loharghat Forest Range. Despite filing multiple complaints with authorities, locals report that processed timber is frequently transported through routes in Patgaon, Bakhalapara, and surrounding villages.
The issue gained renewed attention after a vehicle suspected of carrying illegal timber was involved in an accident in Patgaon. While the incident resulted in no injuries, it highlighted the ongoing movement of wood through the area. Residents claim that valuable tree species are being processed at unauthorized sawmills operating near the state line before being moved to other locations.
Locals expressed frustration over the lack of visible oversight, noting that suspected vehicles travel these routes regularly without facing intervention. One resident remarked, "Protecting forest resources in the border region will require sustained monitoring and greater accountability to prevent further depletion of valuable timber reserves."
Environmental activists and residents are now calling for a formal investigation and more rigorous surveillance of the border belt. As of now, authorities have not released any official statement regarding these allegations.
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