Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah directed plantation drives, tighter security and legal action following an inspection that revealed extensive forest destruction along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border
Guwahati: Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on Thursday ordered immediate ecological restoration and enhanced security measures in the Behali Reserve Forest after an inspection revealed extensive forest destruction along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.
Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the minister visited the affected areas with senior officials from the Forest Department, Assam Police and the civil administration to assess the damage.
According to the state government, satellite imagery and drone surveys conducted over the past six months showed that nearly 400 hectares of reserve forest had been encroached upon and extensively damaged.
Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah directed the Ecological Task Force to begin plantation and restoration work immediately in coordination with the Forest Department. He also ordered the strengthening of forest camps, the improvement of approach roads, and the construction of an additional access road to enable faster deployment of personnel.
The minister instructed the Assam Police and the Forest Battalion to maintain continuous surveillance and establish additional camps in vulnerable areas. He further directed officials to initiate strict legal action against unlawful encroachment, trespass and forest destruction within Assam’s jurisdiction, stressing that environmental damage cannot be justified on the grounds of an inter-state boundary dispute.
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