Boko, Aug 24: Large-scale illegal logging and timber trade have allegedly been flourishing in the West Kamrup Forest Division, with accusations that some forest officials are running a well-organised syndicate instead of safeguarding reserve forests.
The West Kamrup Forest Division — flanked by hills and the Brahmaputra — is reportedly witnessing rampant felling of valuable trees along the Assam–Meghalaya border under Boko and Bandapara Forest Ranges. Unscrupulous traders are said to be cutting timber in bulk, producing charcoal by burning buried logs, and transporting both to various districts, including minority-dominated areas.
Sources allege that the Nagarbera Riverine Forest Office is at the centre of the racket, with the in-charge officer reportedly collecting ₹10,000 per timber-laden truck and ₹5,000–₹7,000 per charcoal-laden truck from traders. Timber shop owners are also said to be paying monthly “fees” between ₹20,000 and ₹50,000.
Forest department insiders further claim that the same office charges ₹50,000–₹1,00,000 for licence renewals and ₹20,000–₹40,000 for each challan book (100 challans). Officer-in-charge Nurul Hasan Saikia confirmed that his jurisdiction includes 80 licensed timber shops and 11 timber-related enterprises.
On Friday, officials inspected Bhowriabhitha village and found valuable teak being cut at the M/S Shakil Anowar Timber Shop, with leftover logs dumped in an open field. Workers reportedly fled on seeing the officials. Though West Kamrup Forest Division Officer Subodh Talukdar was informed, no immediate action followed, and by the time a team reached the spot, no timber was recovered.
Saikia has argued that the long distance between the Nagarbera office and the village hampers enforcement. The revelations have raised questions about how a forest official accused of collecting lakhs in illegal payments can play any credible role in conservation.
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