IMPHAL, March 27 - After seizing huge quantity of logs reportedly brought from the Indo-Myanmar border, Forest and Environment Minister Thaonoujam Shyamkumar of the state�on Tuesday�seized 9 trucks for illegally transporting sand from Dimapur (Nagaland).
The seizure of the sand loaded trucks was made at Sekmai area. Most of the truck drivers had not procured Transit Pass (TP) from the Forest department, except one driver who had procured TP issued from the Tadubi Forest Check Post. However, the truck drivers were issued TP from the Sekmai Forest Check Post and released.
The trucks were detained in the morning at Sekmai with the help of Sekmai Police Station Officer in-Charge , said Minister. The truck drivers alleged that they were not issued TPs at the Forest Check Post at Mao Gate citing confusion over the new rate of TPs.
He appealed to the department officials to conduct their duty sincerely and added that they should issue TPs on forest products to collect royalty by following the guidelines of the department.
He also visited the Kanglatongbi Forest Beat Office near Sekmai and informed that the department will start plantation drive in the monsoon season in an effort to save the environment and check global warming.
