https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

In Hot Pursuit of Illegal Timber Traders Operating Along the Assam-Meghalaya Border

Kamrup West forest department’s efforts have resulted in the dismantling of around 35 illegal sawmills.
Indian Masterminds Stories

The forest departments in various districts of Assam have always been on the forefront in catching illegal timber traders. Further efforts are on to bring it down to zero as the illegal felling and selling of timber has been affecting the green cover in the north-eastern state. 

The forest department of Kamrup West district, too, is breathing down the neck of timber smugglers, bringing in new regulations in the issuance of timber licenses and dismantling illegal sawmills in the area.

Kamrup West forest department seizing illegal timber

Credit goes to IFS officer Dimpi Bora, who is the DFO Kamrup West, for joining hands with the local police and the district administration to go after the illegal timber traders. Due to the collective effort of all the departments, there has been a cut down of such illegal activities by an increasing rate in the district.

ILLEGAL TIMBER TRADING

While speaking to Indian Masterminds, IFS officer Dimpi Bora said, “Illegal timber trading has been very much prevalent in our area. Most of the illegal timber come from Meghalaya. There have been instances when trees have been felled in our reserves, as well. Also, many illegal shops or banned sawmills have been operating in the district.”

She added that in the border areas, the main problem is that many times, “the places where these illegal operations take place do not fall in our jurisdiction, due to which, it becomes difficult to take any action against them.” 

Dismantling illegal sawmills

As per the rules, in a timber establishment, only 10-inch mills are permissible. For a larger machine or mill, due permission and licenses are needed. If people are operating it without any permission or license, the business is considered illegal.

Due to the existence of such laws, the illegal traders were taking advantage of the border and operating in areas for decades, where the forest department couldn’t catch up with them. However, this time, IFS officer Bora came up with a different plan and involved the district administration and the district police in the operation.

DISMANTLING ILLEGAL ESTABLISHMENT

At first, the officer targeted the Ranibari area which is located along the Assam-Meghalaya border but falls in the Assam territory. There, the personnel from the forest department, the district police and the district administration dismantled an illegal mill and seized the timber. 

Ms. Bora said, “After two days, we arrested the sawmill owners as well. This sent a strong message to all people who were involved in such illegal activities. Along with that, I also informed DFO Khasi Hills, who is my Meghalayan counterpart, about four other mills which were operating from her jurisdiction.”

Seizing machines used to cut timber

The officer also provided the details and coordinates with the forest officer and the forest department in Meghalaya became alert and dismantled all the four sawmills. 

Apart from these, there are a few mills in the char areas, too, which fall under the jurisdiction of other forest officers. The mill owners were taking advantage of the remoteness of the un-mapped char areas as no officer was able to track them down. However, with the joint efforts of the all the forest officers of different districts, the illegal sawmills are now being dismantled.

STATS

As the operation kicked off last year, the forest department managed to seize 59 timber-related vehicles, 29 illegal timber shops, 99 horse carts, 14 chains saw machines, 63 pump machines, and dismantled 35 sawmills. Apart from this, 356.78 m3 timber was recovered and around 1.12 crore amount realized.

Whereas, in the current year, 2 mills have been dismantled and 22 people arrested. The forest department has also recovered 106.529 m3 of timber which resulted in realizing an amount of 23.67 lakhs.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Set to Promote Two IPS Officers to Director General of Police
Complaint
Complaint Filed Against Senior IPS Officer for Sending Inappropriate Messages
Jammu and Kashmir Government
Three IAS Officers Assigned New Postings in J&K; Check Names Here
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services
Senior IAS Officer Rajendra Ratnoo Opts for Voluntary Retirement
SEBI
SEBI Appoints 3 New Executive Directors: Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey & Sanjay Purao Take Charge
Lateral_entry_resized
No Reservation in Lateral Govt Job Entries, Centre Tells Rajya Sabha Citing Single-Post Rule
DelhiPolice
Top-Level Shake-Up in Delhi Police: 3 IPS Officers Reassigned Amid Security Concerns; Chahal Named DG, Civil Defence
mp
MP’s ₹3 Lakh Crore Infrastructure Boom: 255 km Greenfield Highway, ₹5,500 Cr Tiger Corridor Among Key Road Projects
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Puducherry
Scientific, Strategic, and Sustainable: How Dr Arulrajan is Transforming Puducherry’s Ecology
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Set to Promote Two IPS Officers to Director General of Police
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT