Arunachal: Rafts carrying illegal timber intercepted between Seram Forest Beat & Borguli Wildlife Range

PASIGHAT: Continuing its crackdown on the illegal timber business prevalent in the region, the Borguli Wildlife Range staffs of D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary along with staffs of Mebo Forest Range (territorial) damaged two rafts carrying illegal timber being transported via River Siang between Borguli Wildlife Range and Seram Forest Beat office yesterday afternoon at around 1.30 PM.

As per officials of the Borguli Wildlife Range, a total of 109 logs were being ferried via Siang river in two rafts being pulled by a Boat for faster and quicker transportation.

Wildlife staffs Apuram Sisam and Geyang Tayeng informed that some people were seen carrying the timber logs in rafts via the Siang River when they were crossing the river toward Borguli Wildlife Range of D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary at around 1.30 PM.

“As and when we saw the illegal timber logs, we informed Oson Tayeng, Range Forest Officer, Mebo RF and Naning Perme, Range Forest Officer, Borguli Wildlife Range. As per the direction of RFOs we cut and damaged the raft of logs but the boat which was pulling the raft fledsensing the seizure of the boat”, they said.

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However, the officials said that the smuggling mafia is now giving warnings and threat calls from the illegal timber smugglers.

“The timber logs owners are saying that they had fixed up with the officials' concern which means paying money/bribe to some of the forest officials”, added the wildlife staff.

When contacted, Naning Perme, RFO Borguli Wildlife Range said that the illegal logs were coming from the territorial area but were being ferried via Siang river. “

However we will not tolerate any illegalities in the area”, informed Perme. While Oson Tayeng, RFO Mebo RF when asked informed that the seized logs were damaged by wildlife staff in his direction.

“I have directed all my Seram Beat staff to follow up with the illegal timber incident and to take drastic action against the timber smugglers”, said Tayeng.

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