Lumding/Karbi Anglong: A reported attempt to fell trees inside a reserved forest area has raised concerns over the monitoring and protection of forest land along the Lumding-Diphu connecting road in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district.
The incident reportedly occurred during the night near the 12 Kilo area, where unidentified individuals allegedly entered the reserved forest under the jurisdiction of the Diphu Forest Division and attempted to cut and remove trees.
The reported activity has prompted concern among local residents, who have questioned how tree felling could allegedly take place at night in a protected forest area despite the presence of authorities responsible for safeguarding the region’s forest resources.
Fallen Tree Damages Power Lines
The incident also reportedly affected electricity services in Lumding after one of the trees allegedly brought down during the operation came into contact with overhead power lines.
The resulting damage disrupted the electricity connection supplying the town, leaving large parts of Lumding without power during the night.
Electricity department personnel began restoration work in the early hours, with repair teams working to fix the damaged power lines connecting Diphu and Lumding and restore normal electricity services.
Calls for Investigation
The reported incident has renewed concerns about the security and surveillance of the reserved forest stretches along the Lumding-Diphu road, which is an important road link in the region.
Residents have called for a detailed investigation into the alleged tree felling and urged the authorities to identify those responsible. They have also sought strict legal action if the allegations are established.
The incident has further drawn attention to the need for effective monitoring of reserved forest areas to prevent unauthorised tree cutting and protect valuable forest resources.
