TURA, March 11 - In a major crackdown on the flourishing illegal timber trade, Meghalaya Forest officials, in conjunction with local police of Tikrikilla in West Garo Hills, shut down nine illegal saw mills in the area.
The illegal saw mills were shut down during a day-long raid on Saturday in areas like Pedaldoba, Hatogaon, Belguri, Chamaguri and Naguapara. The area, along with adjoining Phulbari has become the hub of the illegal timber trade with an estimated 50 such mills operating in the area.
The raids follow those in the plain belt near Hallidayganj and Chibinang where also nine illegal saw mills were closed down.
�The joint team of District Level Special Task Force Committee (DLSTFC), which includes Forest, police and district administration officials, seized nine mills and confiscated timber, machines, etc., from the area,� said DFO, Sachin Gavade.
The DLSTFC also identified the owners of the mills as Salseng Marak and Manik Sangma (Chamaguri), Kalu Sangma (Pedaldoba), Dibrugarh Rabha (Belguri), Lakhan Rabha and Arun Boro (Naguapara).
