NORTH LAKHIMPUR, May 9 � The bombax trees, locally known as Shimoloo, is fast declining in the forest areas of Lakhimpur and its territories in river island Majuli following running of illegal bench saw mills in and around North Lakhimpur with full knowledge of the district forest department.
Two such saw mills run illegally by Bhabit Saikia (Pyari) in Moidomia are largely responsible for the fast disappearance of bombax trees from the forests of Lakhimpur district. The tree, bombax is very useful in making planks meant for casting roofs, beams and posts in RCC constructions. As housing and real estate business are on rise in Lakhimpur and other areas of the State, large numbers of bombax trees are felled by timber dealers illegally with full knowledge of the district forest departments and its logs are sawn in mills operated clandestinely.
As the spurt of illegal milling of the bombax logs are on, local public has been complaining before the Lakhimpur Forest Range Office for a long time to take actions against the two saw mills. On May 6 a large group of local public gheraoed the Lakhimpur Forest Range Office in North Lakhimpur demanding strict action against the two saw mills and stop felling the bombax trees. The Forest Range Officer-in-charge, Pawan Saikia ensured the protesters to take adequate measures against the two saw mills and its stockpile of bombax timbers.
However the Range Officer made no action on the following day and let a truckload of bombax timbers to be transported to elsewhere. When the agitated public returned to the Forest Range Office, its gate was locked from inside. The public is of the view that there has been a nexus between the timber dealers and forest officers in Lakhimpur district for which such illegal activities are on rise which has been threatening the biodiversity of this region.
It may be recalled that bombax trees produce a natural quilt from which pillows, mattresses and other bed accessories are made. Secondly it houses many species of birds including the endangered Lesser Adjutant Storks. The dwindling number of bombax trees in this region is threatening to the existence of these species.