Is deforestation and sand mining rampant in Sikkim? Forest Dept clarifies

Gangtok: For the past few months Sikkim’s Forest department was under fire from various quarters for allegedly allowing “rampant and unsustainable quarrying” through excavators.

The Forest Department Wednesday organised a press conference and claimed that it has collected around Rs. 64 lakh in 2020-21 as fine for illegal use of excavators (JCBs) at the riverine sites allotted for surface collection of sand and stones.

Additional chief secretary-cum-PCCF M.L. Srivastava said the collection of Rs 64 lakh as penalties illustrate the action taken by the forest department against illegal JCB operations.