JORABAT, Nov 7 - Assam Forest Minister Atuwa Munda on Friday visited the site where teak trees are being illegally felled in Aprikula Forest Reserve near Mikir Mohpur Village under Morokdola Forest beat on Assam-Meghalaya border. He was accompanied by officials of the Forest department.
He physically verified the site and confirmed in front of mediapersons that trees were being cut in the forest. He also said that a high-level enquiry was being initiated by the Forest department and the department has already seized many logs of trees that were illegally felled.
He admitted that he was forced to visit the spot following reports in media.
He said that the enquiry report shall be made public and any one found involved in the tree felling activity, even if they were from the Forest department, shall be punished severely.
He said that he has always welcomed suggestions, information, complaints from the media and other well-wishers for conservation of the forests.
When Munda was asked by the Dimoria AASU unit president Jayanta Kalita about the various allegations that have been raised upon the Morokdolla Beat Officer regarding the passage of limestone carrying vehicles from the front of the Morokdola beat office, among others, Atuwa replied that anyone found guilty will not be spared but any complaint addressed to him must be written and not verbal.
