JORHAT, Dec 16 � Though he has not received any official recognition, Jadab Payeng�s efforts have been instrumental in protecting a forest covering about 700 hectares of land on a chapori (sandbar) of the Brahamaputra river near Kokilamukh here. Payeng, who is known by his nickname Molai, is the person behind the conservation of the sprawling forest which came to the notice of the Forest department only last year. The forest area is also aptly called �Molai Kathoni� (Molai�s woods).
According to Forest department sources, the forest is home to more than 50 deer and other small herbivorous animals, several wild elephants, various species of reptiles, birds and other wild creatures. There is also a family of Royal Bengal tiger consisting of a full-grown female and two cubs.
The history of the forest dates back to 1994-95. The Forest department had then executed an afforestation project in that nameless chapori in the midst of the Brahamaputra near Kokilamukh and planted saplings of valuable trees in 300 hectares. But the department completely forgot about the project in due course of time.
It was Molai who took up the responsibility of looking after the forest and preserving it. He prevented people from cutting trees in the forest. Earlier, Molai was one of the temporary workers of the afforestation project. As the project was completed, his job also ended. But he remained in the forest, establishing a cattle farm (khuti). Gradually, the plantation turned into a dense forest spreading its area without the knowledge of the outside world.
The Forest department is now going to write to the Government, informing about the commendable act of the person who has been offering his service selflessly for the last 16 years, said a Forest official.
After long and unnoticed years of silent service, Molai has now caught the attention of various organisations which are making a clamour to felicitate him in recognition of his yeoman�s service as a one-man protector of forests. The Jorhat district unit of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba-Chatra Parishad is going to felicitate him tomorrow.
Siba Kalita, president of the Jorhat AJYCP unit, said, �We are going to organise a meeting to felicitate Molai for his relentless service towards nature and discuss various issues like developing a convenient communication system for the forest and stopping encroachment on the land near the forest. We will also demand a national award for him in recognition of his service.�
It may be mentioned here that communication problems kept the forest out of the notice of the common people here. Only the residents in the vicinity know about it and its caretaker. The forest literally grew in sun and shower by the side of the flowing waters of the mighty Brahamaputra under the vigilant eye of Molai.
