Forest Dept gears up
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 20 2017:
The State Forest Department has initiated certain measures to check timber smuggling and wildlife produces from Manipur to Myanmar and neighbouring States.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) wrote to Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police on May 18 informing that forged transit passes (TPs) are used to smuggle out timber forest produces from the State to the neighbouring States and Myanmar.
All TPs issued by Forest Department have watermarks and embossed with 'machine numbers' and they would be counter-signed and sealed by DFOs concerned, mentioned the PCCF's letter.
Moreover, all TPs issued by Forest Department are original copies, and neither photostat copies or true copis are permissible, according to the letter.
TPs should be embossed with official seals and they should mention details of the produces being transported and their destinations as well.
The PCCF's letter further asked DCs and SPs to impound all forest and wildlife produces transported with suspicious TPs and hand them over to the nearest forest offices for further legal action.