JORABAT, March 26 - Massive hill cutting activity in Sonapur affecting the biodiversity of the region these days has caused concern among the conscious sections of society.
A number of environmentalists have raised concern over the ongoing activity of cutting down of a massive green hill along Amchang Forest Reserve in Sonapur�s Patarkuchi area.
It has been learnt that one Sikha Dey has obtained permission from the district administration and the Kamrup East DFO to flatten her plot of hilly land bearing Dag no. 83, 85, 86, 87 and Patta no. 7, 23, 24. She is the wife of Dinesh Ranjan Dey (now retired) who was once the circle officer of Sonapur revenue circle. Sikha Dey has reportedly awarded the excavation work to a BJP youth wing leader known to be close a Cabinet minister in the present State government.
Conscious sections of society have raised the question as to how the administration awarded permission for felling of trees and cutting down of such a huge green hill adjacent to a forest reserve. Some suspect that the BJP�s youth wing leader helped Dey in obtaining permission.
Another worrying factor is that, large tracts of agricultural land in the area are being filled up with earth derived from cut hills, to make way for business establishments. But the administration has so far failed to take any effective remedial steps in this regard.
�Even though the hill cutting and earth filling activities are being carried out in blatant violation of norms, it is very disheartening to see the Sonapur Circle Officer remain a silent spectator,� said an Amri Karbi Students� Union (AKSU) leader.
AKSU and the Assam Sangrami Yuva Chatra Sangathan have threatened a vigorous agitation if the authorities fail to immediately terminate the permission granted to Sikha Dey.
Her husband, Dinesh Ranjan Dey was the circle officer of Sonapur revenue circle way back in 2003. The people of greater Dimoria region have demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter, which, they believe, would also reveal all irregularities done during Dinesh Dey�s tenure as Sonapur circle officer.
