Stop timber smuggling, plant 10 crore saplings: Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari to forest officials
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday directed the Forest Department to intensify action against illegal logging and timber smuggling, stressing the need for greater transparency and stronger enforcement.
Addressing the inaugural programme of Forest Week celebrations in Salt Lake, Adhikari said the department should work closely with the police to curb forest-related crimes.
"We have stopped cattle smuggling, syndicate raj and other illegal activities; likewise, the forest department should, with the help of the police force, work to stop illegal logging and timber smuggling," he said.
Vacancies to be filled soon
The chief minister acknowledged that the Forest Department faces several operational challenges and instructed the departmental secretary to submit a proposal to improve infrastructure and fill vacant posts.
He announced that recruitment of forest guards will now be conducted through the Police Recruitment Board, adding that vacancies are expected to be filled within the next few months.
Focus on human-wildlife conflict
Adhikari also called for a balanced approach to addressing the recurring human-elephant conflict in the Jangalmahal region, which includes Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Purulia and Bankura districts.
The region frequently witnesses clashes between villagers and elephant herds, particularly during the harvesting season, as animals stray into farmlands.
He said conservation efforts must go hand in hand with development in the affected areas.
Target of planting 10 crore saplings
Calling for a massive afforestation drive, Adhikari urged every MLA in the state to plant one lakh saplings in their respective constituencies.
Drawing comparisons with Uttar Pradesh's plantation campaign, he said West Bengal should aim to plant 10 crore saplings this year.
"We are not as large as Uttar Pradesh, but we can plant 10 crore saplings this year," he said, while encouraging a "healthy competition" among legislators to increase the state's green cover.
'Build a greener West Bengal'
Claiming that the previous government had neglected the Forest Department, Adhikari said West Bengal should take lessons from states such as Odisha and Chhattisgarh in strengthening forest administration.
He appealed to citizens to actively participate in tree plantation efforts, saying the collective goal should be to build a pollution-free and environmentally sustainable West Bengal.
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