Forest Department pulls down illegal electricity poles in Sherpur's Garo hills

Authorities have seized poles, cables and other equipment after halting work inside the protected forest

The Forest Department has dismantled rural electricity transmission poles erected illegally inside forest land in Garo Hills along the border in Sherpur.

Md Suman Mia, range officer of Sreebardi Upazila's Balijhuri Range, said on Thursday that Palli Bidyut Samity, the rural electrification body, had been installing poles to supply electricity at Rajar Pahar, a hillock in Karnajhora Beat, when the department stepped in.

He said poles or wires could not be set up inside the forest under any circumstances, adding that his team had launched the operation after receiving the tip-off.

A contractor from the rural electrification body was found preparing to connect electricity to a local house at the time, Suman said, and the team stepped in to seize the poles, wires and other materials.

Sreebardi Zone Palli Bidyut Samity Deputy General Manager Surjya Narayan Bhowmik said a businessman had applied for an electricity connection to operate a motor at his farm in Rajar Pahar.

He said the contractor had initially been stopped, but later proceeded after being told that the matter had been settled with the department.

"Beyond that, I don't know any further details."