Assam: Locals protest cutting down of trees within reserved forest area in Mornoi

Noisy scenes were witnessed at Mornoi in Assam's Goalpara district after locals protested against felling of trees, which they termed as illegal. 

As per sources, a number of people were cutting down Sal trees in the Dahikata reserved forest in the name of establishing an office for the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). Local gathered at the spot and protested against the cutting down of the trees, while also preventing the people engaged in tree felling. 

Reportedly, a few BPCL employees were also present along with forest department workers when the locals prevented them from cutting the trees at the site. As per sources, earlier too there had been attempts to cut trees in the area. However, locals back then had met the local District Forest Officer (DFO). While the cutting of the trees stopped for some time, a fresh attempt was made today to cut down trees in the area.

Th locals are contending that Dahikata is a reserved forest, and hence the forest department has no right to cut down trees in the area. They are also pointed out that the reserved forest is home to wild elephants, who often come out in human habitats as the forest cover continues to deplete. 

"My point is today they are cutting the trees. We are paying taxes to the forest department, so they should protect the trees. Today the DFO has given orders, and now they are protecting the people who are cutting the trees. However, when elephants venture into villages and cause havoc, then there is never any sign of the forest officials. Today they are cutting down the trees in a protected forest area. What do they have to cut down trees in a protected area? We want a probe into this," said a local. 

As per sources, the forest department is attempting to cut down about 2000 trees in the area as BPCL has reportedly acquired the area for setting up an office in lieu of a royalty for the trees in question. 

However, locals are vehemently protesting the move and are adamant that they would not allow cutting of trees inside a reserved forest area.