The Assam Forest Department on Sunday seized a JCB machine from the Rani area on the outskirts of Guwahati for allegedly carrying out illegal excavation close to a reserved forest, officials said.
Acting on specific inputs, a forest department team from the Rani Range conducted a spot inspection at Belguri village, where large-scale earth cutting was reportedly underway on government land near the forest boundary. During the operation, officials found a JCB being used for unauthorized excavation in violation of forest and environmental regulations.
According to forest officials, the excavation posed a serious threat to the nearby reserved forest and could have led to soil erosion and ecological damage. On noticing the arrival of the forest personnel, the machine operator and others present at the site reportedly fled, abandoning the JCB.
The seized machine has been taken into custody and shifted to the Rani Range Forest Office. The department has initiated legal proceedings under relevant provisions of the Assam Forest Regulation and environmental protection laws against those involved in the illegal activity.
Forest authorities said drives against illegal earth cutting and encroachment near forest land will continue in and around Guwahati, warning that strict action will be taken against violators to protect ecologically sensitive areas.
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