KOKRAJHAR: Massive deforestation and illegal encroachment are taking place in all important reserve forests in BTC region but the concerned department has miserably failed to protect the forest and its valuable resources. The department has also failed to protect the forest land from illegal encroachment. Forest department officials, as alleged by villagers living near the forests, are hands in glove with timber mafia. As per official data, more than 40,000 hectares of forestland in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) are under illegal encroachment and valuable tress like sal, titasapa and gamori are being smuggled. The Saralpara forest beat office is closed and only a few employees are working in Ultapani Forest Range office since December 23, 2014 when the NDFB (S) carried out senseless killings of Adivasis in Kokrajhar and Dhikiajuli in Sonitpur district. Talking to reporters, Manahor Sharma, a villager, said that the forest staff had not been seen at the Salarpara forest beat office since the last one year. He said that forest officials did not do their duty. He said that complete destruction of forest was just a matter of time and the remaining thick jungles in Saralpara area would also be denudated within 2 to 3 years if the concerned department did not take preventive measure against illegal encroachment and massive felling of trees. Sharma said that wild animals, including endangered species, were available in Ultapani and Saralpara forests but now the number of wild animals was decreasing drastically due to massive deforestation in the four districts of BTC. The habitats of animals had been encroached upon by humans. He reiterated that no eviction drive had been carried out by the forest department against the illegal encroachers since the past 4-5 years. He alleged that Hiroyna Sharma, DFO of Haltugaon Forest Division, Kokrajhar had never carried out eviction since he assumed charge in the division. The eviction drive was carried out regularly when Dr C Ramesh was the DFO of Haltugaon division in Kokrajhar. He also demanded that the higher authority of the concerned department should take stringent measures to protect the forest resources in BTC. Sharma also alleged that the forest department had a number of check-posts in the district but illegal timber logs could easily be smuggled. He said three forest checks posts at Ulatapani, Digli in Bismuri and Karigaon under Haltugaon forest division were illegally collecting Rs 500 from every mini truck in each check gate. Anjan Narzary of the locality alleged that some of the employees of the forest department were hands in glove with contractors, who were in a nexus with militant outfits. P. Chetray said that the BTC forests were known for their natural beauty and wildlife resources. He said the forest department was responsible for destruction of forest in the district and the region and demanded that they should take strong measures to protect the wild animals and also to prevent illegal encroachment. According to the data available with the forest department in the BTC, a total 39,750.86 hectares was under encroachment. About 2,385.14 hectares under Kachugaon forest division, 4,262.7 hectares in Dhansiri division, 8,894.21 hectares in Chirang division, 3,332.8 hectares in Porbotjhora division and 6,337.6 hectares in Baksa forest division were under encroachment. The Haltugaon division of Kokrajhar district has the highest encroachment of forestland with 14,538.41 hectares of land being encroached upon. The people will have to wait and see what steps are taken by the State Government and the BTC administration to protect the natural resources. However, Hiriyno Kumar Sarma, DFO of the Haltugaon Forest Division Kokrajhar said that there was shortage of staff and only 117 staff were working in five forest ranges in the Hultugaon Forest Division.