Newmai News Network Imphal | May 20 An officer of the Manipur Forest department was suspended today for "dereliction of duties". The development came hours after Manipur Forest and Environment Minister Th. Shyamkumar came down heavily against department officials following the seizure of two trucks loaded with logs last night. The department suspended Md. Altaf Ali Khan, Deputy Ranger, Beat Officer of Molnoi Forest Beat Office, Chandel Forest Division with immediate effect from today for dereliction of duties, according to official sources. During the period under suspension, the headquarter of Md. Altaf Ali Khan shall continue to be the Divisional Forest Officer’s Office, Chandel Forest Division, said a suspension order dated May 20, 2017 issued by Kereilhouvi Angami, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force Department, the DIPR press release said. Speaking to media persons at Central Forest Division, Range Forest Office at Mantriphukhri, Minister Shyamkumar said that a team led by DFO Central Forest Division, L. Joykumar seized two truckload of logs at the Matai Garden, Khabam last night at around 8 pm. Lauding the team for the timely action, Shyamkumar said that the trucks were brought from Khudengthabi in Chandel District to Imphal without submitting proper documents. Shyamkumar informed media persons that, Md. Altaf Ali Khan issued hammer marks (a clearance sign from the Forest Department) on the logs which were to be issued from the department’s Moreh Range Office. The two trucks easily crossed various entry posts with the help of the hammer marks without submitting proper documents at various entry posts. The trucks crossed Khudengthabi Army Post, Tengnoupal Army Post, Tengnoupal Police Post, Tengnoupal Forest Post, Molnoi Forest Office Post, Pallel Police Station Post, Kakching Forest Office Post, Thoubal Forest Office Post, Thoubal Haokha Range Post, Lilong Police Station Post, Singjamei Police Station Post and reached Khabam in Imphal East. The Minister said that the department is conducting continuous drive to stop illegal activities which is hindering in the revenue collection. If the department officials sincerely perform their duties then the set revenue target of Rs 100 crore annually can be easily achieved, he added. Shyamkumar further said that the revenue collected can be used to fulfill the other requirements of the department. The Forest and Environment Minister appealed to the general public to continue their business as usual, following the law and guidelines of the department. On the other hand, Shyamkumar expressed his displeasure over the poor maintenance of the office premises of the Central Forest Division, Range Forest Office at Mantriphukhri. Later, Shyamkumar visited the office of the Forest Beat Officer, New Keithelmanbi and raised the matter of non-issuance of transit pass to the trucks carrying sand and stone. The Minister ordered the officials to issue transit pass to all the trucks carrying forest products in order to help in the revenue generation of the department. During the visit, officials also shared their grievances to the Minister.
