Forest Department Takes Action Against Illegal Hill Excavation in Rani Area
Illegal Excavation Sparks Forest Department Response
Rani hill Cutting
PALASBARI, Nov 14: Following a report detailing alleged unauthorized hill excavation in the Rani forest region, the Forest department has taken action, detaining a contractor involved in the excavation of a hill at Damelia Basti near Garopara within the Rani Forest Range in Kamrup district on Thursday.
The contractor, identified as Nitu Sarma, was apprehended while working on a road project and was later presented in court, as per sources.
This action was initiated just a day after the report raised alarms about the destruction of hill resources and the lack of effective monitoring and protection of forested areas.
Sources indicate that a section of a hill, located close to the Garopara forest beat office, was excavated, with the removed earth being utilized for road construction nearby. This situation has raised significant concerns regarding how such activities could proceed so close to a Forest department office without prompt intervention.
The road was undergoing upgrades with black-topping under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), with an estimated budget of around Rs 40 lakh.
A senior official from the Kamrup East Forest Division confirmed that a case has been filed under the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 and the Assam Forest Regulation of 1891 (amended in 1995), with further legal actions underway.
Additionally, there are allegations regarding the involvement of two other individuals in the excavation process. Their specific roles are still being investigated, and the Forest department is expected to clarify the involvement of all parties associated with the operation.
This incident has also put the operations of the Garopara forest beat office under scrutiny. Given the proximity of the excavation site to the beat office, questions have arisen about whether the forest personnel were aware of the activities and, if so, why no immediate action was taken or why the issue was not escalated to higher authorities.
The situation has sparked broader concerns regarding the safeguarding of forest resources in the Rani area. The contractor's detention has amplified calls for a thorough investigation, including identifying all individuals involved, verifying the source and application of the excavated earth, and examining the responsibilities of the relevant forest personnel.