Aiming to curb deforestation and timber smuggling, the Tripura government has announced a plan to create an intelligence wing to strengthen the forest department’s protection unit.
Speaking to reporters in West Tripura, Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma said on Wednesday that the department would initially engage police personnel in its intelligence wing but recruit staff later.
The minister has accordingly requested Chief Minister that a good number of Tripura State Rifles troops be deployed to work under senior forest officials to protect forests and forest produce.
Earlier, Debbarma said that 11,460 old trees had been cut down since January 2022 to widen different national highways in the state with permission from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and in compliance with other formalities.
He added that the illegal cutting of trees and timber smuggling made the forests vulnerable.
The minister handed over 58 motorcycles to forest range officials during an event held at the Tripura State Forest Academy in Hatipara. “The protection of forests is essential to protect human lives. Development should progress
along with conservation and not deforestation,” he said.
On July 5 last year, Saha launched the state-level mass plantation drive with a target of “five lakh saplings in five minutes” to augment forest cover in the Northeast region, Debbarma said.
Ahead of the drive, the forest department provided over seven lakh saplings to students, organisations, clubs, banks and state and central security forces. “Such a mass plantation drive will continue in the coming monsoon season and beyond it,” he said.
