Forest Department powerless to penalise defaulters
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 24 2012:
Even though certain saw mills are engaging in illegal activities or unethical trade practices, the Forest Department has no authority to take up any action.
Significantly, the saw mills were set up after obtaining due licence from the Industries Department under the Factory Act.
Despite the Supreme Court's ruling to re-locate the saw mills within industrial estates with a view to check extensive lumbering and deforestation particularly in the North East region, the Forest Department is powerless to implement the same ruling, disclosed a high ranking official of the department.
As the saw mills were set up after obtaining licence from Industries Department under the Factory Act, Forest Department has no authority to check records of saw mills or the origins of timbers being sawn there.
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The Supreme Court's ruling stated that all the areas where saw mills are set up should be declared as industrial estates.
Interestingly, some saw mills are located within reserved forest areas.
In addition to the large saw mills functioning in different parts of the State, smaller and portable saw mills are also operating inside forest areas.
Even as the Forest Department is working to enact a new legislation which would authorise the department to monitor saw mills, the same efforts are facing certain difficulties as the licensing authority happens to be another department, conveyed the official.
Whereas 112 saw mills have been okayed by the high power committee which was constituted in accordance to the Supreme Court ruling, many more saw mills which have not been approved by the committee are also operating.
Nevertheless, the State Government has suggested the Forest Department to check saw mills together with police.
Between 2009 and 2011, Manipur has lost 190 sq Kms of forest areas and Senapati district accounted for the maximum loss at 120 sq Kms, added the source.