Maksam Tayeng

PASIGHAT, Oct 29:  Following the repeated complaint from Arunachal Students Association (ASA) supported with various raw photo and video evidences of rampant felling and destruction of forests by timber mafias and other illegal sawmills (bend sawmills) unabatedly operating under East Siang district, the state government formed an inquiry committee on 19/10/2022 vide its No. FOR.37/PRO/2015/10,682-88 to investigate the ground reality and extent of damages as alleged by team ASA.
Accordingly, the inquiry team led by Tarun Johri, Chief Conservator of Forest, Eastern Arunachal Circle, Tezu visited Pasighat and its reserve forests areas including industrial zone areas where licensed sawmills operate from October 27-29. The inquiry team with the help of team ASA led by its President, Lungkang Ering visited various parts of Pasighat Reserve Forest areas under Pasighat Forest Division. 
The inquiry team was shocked to see the amount of destruction and felling of big trees nearby Pasighat. Some of the trees which are also said of British era plantation with more than 20 ft round girth were felled by timber mafias which were never restricted and controlled by the forest department of the district, the ASA said.
However, Lungkang Ering and his team were apprehensive that the report of the inquiry team may be influenced by political leaders. "We have requested the inquiry head to genuinely report the amount and extent of damages of timber felling under Pasighat Forest Division which has taken place due to complete negligence and incompetency and connivance of forest officers with the timber mafias," added Ering in a press briefing held here at Pasighat today.
Arunachal Students Association (ASA) which has asked the state government to immediately suspend Pasighat divisional forest officer (DFO) Tashi Mize and chief conservator of forest (CCF) Pekyom Ringu for their alleged failure to check illegal (timber) logging and misusing CAMPA funds has once again reiterated their demand for immediate action against the erring forest officers so that the action sets an example for other forest officers of the state.  The association has also reiterated their demand for  immediate posting of a dedicated IFS officer in Pasighat Forest Division, as Pasighat is a Cadre division and posting of a cadre officer is must here. The ASA team has also said that, they will keep on fighting and approaching to the higher authorities including to the Ministry of MoEF & CC, New Delhi, PMO and National Green Tribunal if genuine and true ground reports are not submitted to the authorities for appropriate action against the erring officers for easily letting large scale destruction of forests to take place.

Likewise, the association has also sought an investigation into the alleged misuse of CAMPA funds sanctioned against the Pasighat forest division. These funds, worth crores, were supposed to be utilized in forest conservation (soil & moisture conservation in Reserve forest areas) but have been diverted to flood control works and agricultural areas of private individuals by the DFO, Ering said. 
Meanwhile, when contacted, Inquiry Officer Tarun Johri, Chief Conservator of Forest, Tezu declined to comment  on the matter stating he is not authorized to speak to media over the ongoing investigation. However, as per the team ASA, the inquiry team is likely to reflect the entire modus operandi and extent of rampant felling amounting to more than 1000 stumps as claimed by the team ASA in their report to the authorities.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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