Guwahati: After rampant logging was detected at the Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve, the forest department of Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh has sealed all wood-based industries in the district.
Sources said timber smugglers are using all modern machines to cut down the trees in the National park.
“The logs were taken to the saw mills for cutting and later transported to other areas for sale. Rampant cutting down of trees in the Namdapha National park has put the biodiversity of the area at great risk. Earlier it was greenery but now due to chopping down of trees most areas of the park becomes clear,” alleged a local resident.
A committee has been also constituted to check and investigate the wood-based industries.
Meanwhile, all wood-based industries in the entire district had been sealed.
The forest department lodged an FIR in Miao and requested the police to probe the cases of large-scale illegalities, including encroachment, and book the culprits as per law.
Police arrested eight people in conection with timber smuggling. Two others – the alleged kingpins of timber smuggling – are absconding though.
A joint team of the forest department and the district administration had on Tuesday detected the road built by the smugglers and the rampant smuggling of timber inside Namdapha.
The administration directed forest officials to ensure strict monitoring of all suspected areas adjoining Namdapha and take stringent action against smugglers.
“Some corrupt forest officials are involved with the timber smuggler and operating the whole business. They should be immediately booked under law,” said a source.
The post Arunachal: Wood-based industries sealed after rampant logging of trees at Namdapha NP appeared first on OUR INDIA.
