KOKRAJHAR: Along with the rest of the nation, the 63rd Vanamahatsav was observed in Kokrajhar at the behest of the Department of Forest on Sunday. The Deputy Chief of BTC, Kampa Borgoyary inaugurated the Permanent Nursery at Siljan under Chakrasilla Wildlife Sanctuary with a plantation drive. The permanent nursery has an area of three hectares. Talking to reporters, the Deputy Chief of BTC, Kampa Borgoyary who is also the in-charge of the Forest and Tourism, BTC said the Council has been trying to conserve forest and protect the animals, including endangered ones in Chakrasilla Wildlife Sanctuary with a vision to make it an important Botanical garden. He said, although encroachment problem is still rife in the sanctuary, measures have been taken to deal with illegal encroachers. He also admitted that timber smuggling was going on, but with a view to recover from the degradation, the department has carried out massive plantation programme in the sanctuary upto NTPC project in Salakati. The other side of the sanctuary has taken a golden langur project, he said adding that the department has taken steps to protect the habitat of golden langurs. He said, the extension of tea gardens in Chakrasilla Wildlife Sanctuary has been posing a threat to the sanctuary. He also said, steps have been taken to stop deforestation through extension of tea gardens. The programme was attended by the DFO, Haltugaon Division, Dr C Ramesh and Commanding Officer (CO) of the Eco Task Force (ETF), Kuljit Jaggi and other forest department officials.