SHILLONG, SEPT 25: In a continue drive against transportation of illegal charcoal, officials of the Divisional Forest Office (DFO) Khasi Hills (Territorial) Division, Shillong have seized 6 metric tons of illegal charcoal stock in West Khasi Hills.
The illegal charcoal was seized from Laitdom on Saturday during a checking drive carried out by four patrolling teams led by RFOs and ACF in Mawlangsu, Mairang and Rambrai areas, officials said.
They said it illegal charcoal production was reduced considerably as a result of regular patrolling on highways and roads and raid conducted at production sites in the month of June -July.
Several abandoned charcoal making pits were seen at Mawlangsu and Mawkohie, which were accordingly destroyed by the patrolling teams.
According to the officials, the DFO Khasi Hills (T) Division has been taking all necessary measures to control illegal charcoal production and charcoal trade.
The office has formed 8 patrolling teams and regular patrolling is being conducted on high ways, roads and vulnerable points.
During the month of June and July, the office has seized 130 MT of illegal charcoal stock from West Khasi Hills and Ri-bhoi District, while over 50 trucks carrying illegal charcoal were detained since January.
The trucks and charcoal was seized and Offence Report drawn for violating Meghalaya Charcoal (Control of production, Storage, Trade and Transit) Rules, 2008 and Supreme Court order.
Surprise checking of premises of the Ferro alloy factories is being carried out by the staff to prevent the use of illegal charcoal.
The government had notified Meghalaya Charcoal (Control of production, Storage, Trade and Transit) Rules, 2008 to prevent illegal charcoal production and trade. As per rules, the charcoal producer and charcoal stockists should be registered with the office of DFO (Territorial).
Illegal charcoal making is violation of these rules and also Supreme Court order on ban on illegal felling of trees. Charcoal shall be produced only from wood obtained from legal sources like; trees felled under approved working plan and trees felled from registered private and government funded plantations. No person shall import or export the charcoal without permission from Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.
No charcoal shall be transported unless covered by transit pass issued by Forest officer.
The transit pass for transport of charcoal shall be issued only on production of a certificate of origin or document in support that the charcoal has been produced from legal timber.
Any violation of these rules will attract punishment which includes imprisonment for a term which may extend up to 6 months or fine of Rs 500 or both.-By Our Reporter
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