JORABAT, Dec 10 - After a gargantuan portion of illegal extraction of hill (earth) in and around the Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) in Sonapur was unveiled recently in an operation led by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of Wildlife Amit Sahai, a team of forest officials today visited the spot to assess the extent of violations resorted to.
As per sources, flattening of hills was carried out for development of the university.
In the operation that was carried out on Sunday, a total of six excavators and five dumpers used in the extraction of earth in the eco-sensitive zone along the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary, were seized.
As per sources, today�s assessment team led by Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Akash Deep Baruah found several non-permitted activities that were carried out on the ADBU campus.
In a telephonic conversation with The Assam Tribune, CCF Baruah informed that the team visited the spot to assess the extent of violations. He added that after all formalities, some kind of penalties would be drawn. However, the assessment would take some time and in the meantime, all activity at the spot has been halted.
Commenting on the �permission� obtained by the ADBU, Baruah said, �No such permission has been issued by the forest department. Moreover, the assessment till now has found that the activity had also blocked a water body. Some granite has also been extracted from some places.�
Baruah further said that as per a Supreme Court order, no mining is permitted within a distance of one kilometre from the boundary of any protected area like wildlife sanctuary, national park or other protected areas.
Earlier, pressure groups like the All Assam Students� Union had sought the Forest Minister�s intervention in the matter and also demanded action against the officials who had given the green signal for carrying out such an activity.
