TP to illegal sawmill

The leaders of the Hynniewtrep Students Union (HSU), Khasi-Jaintia National Union (KJNU) and Cdooh Ri Jaintia wa Maya (CRJM) have also threatened to file a public interest litigation (PIL) against the alleged illegal activities by the forest department officials.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, HSU-central body president Kyrshan Rymbai, “We demand that the state government should immediately suspend the erring official to prevent such illegal activities in the district.”

He said that the three NGOs have found out that the Ranger of the Jowai forest territorial division C Najier had issued the transit pass to a truck carrying the finish products from an illegal sawmill at Nartiang in the name of a licensed sawmill – Evergreen in Khliehtyrshi.

“We have filed an FIR with the Ummulong Beat House, who accordingly forwarded the same to Nartiang police station along with evidence captured while the truck was loading the products from the illegal sawmill at Nartiang,” he said.

The NGO leader also said when the truck was detained in Mawryngkneng by the police on September 23 after coming out from Nartiang was already equipped with the TP issued by the ranger.

According to him, as per rule, the ranger was supposed to issue the transit pass at the spot after truck is loaded, which in this case is otherwise.

Asked, Rymbai said that they highly suspected that the ranger in connivance with the licensed Evergreen sawmill are issuing the transit pass.

On the other hand, KJNU president Niman N Shadap said that the NGOs also demanded the government to close down all the check points set up by the forest department and the JHADC across the Jaintia Hills region as they have failed to detect such illegal activities.

He said that there are over 100 of illegal sawmills operating in the region due to the failures of the forest department.

By Our Reporter