Jan. 28: The confiscation of two teak-laden trucks in Hojai subdivision has revealed the existence of an inter-district network of timber smugglers working in association with the North Cachar Hills forest department staff.

Hojai forest division officials stopped the trucks at a checkgate last month. The trucks were carrying 1,700 cubic feet of teak from Langting Mupa reserve forest in the North Cachar Hills.

A department source said subsequent investigation revealed a nexus between the timber smugglers, owners of illegal saw mills and dishonest department officers.

The drivers had submitted fake transit passes to carry 1,295 cubic feet of ordinary grade timber. The Lumding range office under Hojai forest division had allegedly issued the transit passes.

“The failure of the North Cachar Hills forest department to keep a close watch over the forests has aggravated the situation,” the source said. The source added that the North Cachar Hills forest department and the northern circle conservator of forests have constituted an official inquiry into the matter, after questioning persons related to the scam.

The Lumding range officer claimed that one of the two trucks had loaded 700 cubic feet ordinary wood in Lumding and moved on towards Mandardisa.

The owner of the trucks said his truck was taken on lease. The drivers and the conductors also claimed to be innocent, as they were not aware of the discrepancy between the amount and nature of the timber in the truck and on the papers. Timber smuggling has destroyed nearly 75 per cent of the green cover in the two NC Hills reserve forests — Langting Mupa and Krumging.

“Till 1995, sunlight could barely penetrate these reserve forests. Now one has to search quite a bit for a patch of shade,” said a villager in Langting.

According to department records, more than 800 hectares of these reserve forests were covered under an aforestation drive and eight nurseries were set up for jatropha cultivation.

No forest department officers are seen inside the reserve forests. When asked about the massive deforestation, senior officials say the presence of militants prevents them from going inside the forests.