Assam Forest MinisterParimal Suklabaidya while expressing concern over the ongoing illegal trade offorest resources has set a deadline for officers to end the corrupt practiceand put in place a system to plug the revenue loss.

In a recent night patrol on the areas under Guwahati and Sonapur forest ranges, the minister witnessed the movement of hundreds of trucks carrying illegal sand and stones following which he had made the order. However, the official record registered only a few trucks moving with the forest resources indicating that illegal trade is thriving.

The minister afterwitnessing vehicles carrying illegal sand and stone held an emergency meetingwith beat officers of Guwahati and Sonapur forest ranges and senior officialsand warned the officers, particularly the beat officers of these two forestranges against the illegal trade of sand and stone etc.

The minister also directedstate's Principal Chief Conservator of Forest A.M. Singh to provide adequateforce to carry out raids at all activities regarding the trade of naturalresources. He also said that if any officer irrespective of his designation isfound to be involved in such trades he will be placed under suspensionimmediately and legal action will be taken against him.

The Chief Conservator ofForests has also been directed by the minister to handle the issues of permitfor such natural resources required for development works by differentdepartments like PWD, Water Resources etc. so that the illegal trade could bechecked.