GUWAHATI: Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on Tuesday announced a statewide mission to identify, seize and permanently shut down all illegal sawmills operating across the state, warning that strict departmental action will be taken against officials who fail to act against such operations within their jurisdictions.
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Addressing the public through a Facebook Live session, the Minister said protecting Assam's forests and biodiversity is a collective responsibility, and asserted that the government remains committed to preventing illegal logging and safeguarding the state's forest resources.
The Forest Department has instructed all Divisional Forest Officers, Range Officers and other field officials to launch an intensive enforcement drive across every forest division. The operation has already begun, with officials directed to identify, seize and shut down illegal sawmills, particularly those in remote and interior areas where illegally felled timber is often processed.
Mallabaruah said every illegal sawmill must be seized immediately, along with all illegally stored timber. Officials have been instructed to submit geo-tagged photographs and detailed division-wise and range-wise daily reports of enforcement action.
The Minister said licensed sawmills will also undergo rigorous inspections to ensure they operate strictly within the limits of their approved licences. Officials have been directed to verify that no unauthorised machinery has been installed and that all timber stocks are backed by valid Transit Passes, GST invoices, e-Way Bills and other mandatory legal documents.
He warned that any Range Officer or DFO in whose jurisdiction illegal sawmills continue to operate will be held personally accountable and face departmental proceedings. "We have launched this drive in mission mode. Our objective is to ensure that every illegal sawmill across Assam is shut down within the coming week," he said.
Expressing concern over reports of illegal timber being transported from forest areas, particularly from Goalpara across the Brahmaputra River to remote locations such as Baghbar, the Minister said the government would not allow organised forest destruction to continue.
Seeking public participation, Mallabaruah appealed to citizens to report the locations of illegal sawmills along with photographs or other evidence, and announced a dedicated helpline number, 94352-04444, through which information can be shared confidentially. He also urged people to report any instances of collusion between departmental officials and illegal sawmill operators, assuring strict action would follow.
The Minister further announced that the Forest Department will now monitor the entire timber supply chain, including end users, with action to be initiated against individuals or commercial establishments found using timber without valid Transit Passes, GST documentation or other legally required records.
Reiterating the government's commitment to protecting Assam's forests, Mallabaruah sought the cooperation of departmental officials and the public to make the statewide campaign against illegal sawmills successful.