ProMASS Feature Services: Sep 07, 2016: A woman forest official has shown her might, paying no heed to to the threats, while booking culprits of felling trees from the forests of Tripura. A forest surveillance team headed by the lady official has raided an area in Bishalgarh and recovered an illegal saw mill, a generator and timbers from a forest fringe area, nearby the house of the state Finance Minister.
The raid has seized the saw mill and timbers worth Rs. four lakh, which may be regarded as too small to count so far as anti-corruption drive is concerned. However, from a different point of view, the raid has become important. According to forest officials, tree felling for expansion of roads and other developmental activities may look logical as the loss of trees are generally compensated by planting equivalent quantity of trees.
But, environmentalists argue, it brings in deforestation, distress in the ecology and biosphere and impact on climate. So more and more plantation as against loss of trees for development agenda has drawn the attention of the public authority. Will the timber thieves, who are destroying the forests mercilessly, hear the words of holy scriptures? No, as the reality has pointed out, even when administrative measures are found in written rules. The nexus among timber thieves, corrupt officials and politically powerful persons have corrugated the system.
As against the background, the recent raid conducted by Poushali Roy, a Forest Official in Bishalgarh Sub-division under West Tripura district, has received an added momentum.
Acting on a tip-off, the team conducted the raid on Sep 06, 2016 against timber mafias and recovered a saw-mill, generator and timber logs. The market value of seized timber is around Rs 4 Lakh. According to local people, the forest officer led the raid at a place which is close to residence of state Finance Minister Bhanu Lal Saha.
It is alleged, small time supporters of the ruling party are involved in the racket. However, nothing could stop Poushali Roy from conducting the raid. Local residents opined that if forest officials show courage and willingness to fight against illegal timber merchants, no obstacle may come in forward. Mrs. Roy’s effort and success prove that administration stood behind courageous officials.
It is irony that coming under pressure from petty political elements, officials buckle and often greed takes precedence. It is alleged timber mafia pay huge sum as bribes to concerned officials. Raid by forest officials and police force have proved that bribes or political linkages cannot prevent an honest and sincere officer from acting against the enemies of environment, timber mafia, stated a teacher of Bishalgarh H.S. School. He added, Poushali Roy’s raid will gear up confidence and inspire other officials to fight against the criminals.
Citing example of recent 850 kg ganja haul by BSF, a local resident said, the administration seems trying its best to curb menaces that are affecting environment and human health. Only a small section of officials may have a link with ganja dealers or illegal timber merchants, opined a group of local people. Hailing the raid by Poushali Roy against timber mafia and raid by BSF against ganja dealers, a local youth said, such raids should be conducted regularly and awareness campaigns should be launched by the administration to encourage people’s participation against such crimes.
