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Calcutta, Feb. 25: Mamata Banerjee summoned forest minister Hiten Burman to her Writers’ chamber from his Cooch Behar home today and asked him why he had asked a senior official of his department to withdraw the government order seeking the closure of illegal saw mills.
An official said the chief minister “made it clear” to Burman, the Trinamul MLA from Sitalkuchi, that she was against such saw mills.
The order against illegal mills was issued last week by principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) M.A. Sultan. After Burman allegedly asked him to withdraw it on the ground that many poor people were “dependent” on the mills, Sultan informed his seniors.
“The order issued by the PCCF is aimed at preventing smuggling of timber. These mills saw trees felled illegally before they are smuggled out,” an official said.
After the meeting, Burman told reporters: “The matter is being looked into by the chief secretary and the forest secretary. The chief minister wanted to know about the matter and I have briefed her.”
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