Guwahati: In a worrying development, allegations of widespread corruption and selective enforcement have surfaced against the West Kamrup Forest Division, casting a dark shadow over its role as a guardian of the region’s green cover. The accusations suggest that forest officials are prioritising revenue generation over their core duty of curbing illegal activities, leading to a situation where the forest is plundered with apparent impunity.
Sources reveal a deeply troubling pattern of behaviour, particularly under the supervision of the Singra Forest Range Officer. Instead of clamping down on illegal operations, officials are reportedly using their authority to extort money. Sand-laden trucks, a primary target, are allegedly stopped not to enforce regulations but to collect money. Meanwhile, vehicles carrying timber and coal, including Tata DI and Mahindra Bolero pickups, are said to be given a free pass, traversing the forest routes daily without any scrutiny. This apparent indifference to the illegal timber trade raises serious questions about the division’s commitment to its mandate.
The corruption, it seems, operates under the cover of darkness. Night-time inspections along National Highway 17 are reportedly limited to a theatrical checking of sand trucks. Vehicles hauling sand from Goalpara are flagged down, and in cases of minor document discrepancies, forest guards are said to temporarily board the dumpers. The vehicle is allowed to proceed a short distance before payment is collected, an act that sources claim has become a systematic method of generating revenue rather than regulating forest resources.
The cost of this alleged negligence is being borne by the forest itself. Highly valuable trees such as Sal and Teak are reportedly being felled and transported using heavy machinery, especially from the Jaokata region, which falls under the West Kamrup Forest Division. Illegal timber, it is claimed, reaches urban areas unhindered during the night. The situation is further compounded by the fact that repeated reports of illegal timber mills operating during the day go unanswered, reinforcing the perception of a complete breakdown of law enforcement.
Environmental activists and concerned local residents have raised their voices in protest, calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into these grave allegations of corruption and negligence. The future of West Kamrup’s forests, they say, hangs in the balance, and swift action is needed to restore faith in the very body tasked with its protection.
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