GUWAHATI, Oct 26 - The illegal earth-cutting activities in the hills of the Sila forest range under North Guwahati revenue circle have caused great concern among the conscious sections of society. The people residing near the area alleged that these activities on the Sila, Katamur hills, being run by a nexus of businessmen with connivance of some forest personnel have posed a serious threat to the ecological balance and natural beauty of the area as the forest cover is getting depleted with every passing day.
�Even after several intimations to the forest department, the district administration and the Chief Minister, the illegal activities are still going on,� one of the local residents claimed. �It has also come to light that even though a large number trucks carry earth to this area, only a few pay royalties to the government,� said another local. The people have demanded immediate ban on the hill cutting and sought Chief Minister�s intervention in this regard. Recently, at a press conference in Guwahati, the All Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) appealed to the government to take a strong action in this regard.
AJYCP president Biraj Kumar Talukdar alleged that a strong nexus has been formed between the mafia and a section of forest officials to facilitate such illegal activities.
�Sixty to 70 trucks carry earth for filling activities in the area every day. The people involved in these activities had taken permission for earth-filling needed for the ongoing construction of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Guwahati. The land-filling work was already over, but earth-cutting activities are going on,� he said in a press statement, demanding an early inquiry into the illegal activities.
