Archive · 8 Nov 2025
Chainsaw Smuggling Fuels Timber Depletion in Kamrup Forests
Imagine some people are cutting down trees in the forest to sell the wood, but they are not supposed to.
They are using special electric saws, like a powerful buzzing tool, that make it super fast to cut down trees.
These saws are easy to carry around and can be used almost anywhere.
Because the roads are better now, it's also easier for them to take the cut wood away quickly.
Forest rangers are trying to stop them and have caught many trucks full of wood and even some of these saws.
They are worried because too many trees are being cut down, and they are trying to figure out how to protect the forest better.
Timber smugglers in Kamrup district are increasingly using battery-powered chainsaws for illegal tree felling.
The portability and efficiency of chainsaws allow for rapid felling and transportation of timber.
Improved road networks in the area are facilitating easier log transportation for smugglers.
Forest officials are concerned about the rapid depletion of trees in both forest and non-forest areas.
In the last year, 36 timber-laden vehicles and 18 chainsaw machines were seized in Kamrup West Forest division.
- Who
- Timber smugglers and Forest staff
- What
- Increased illegal timber smuggling using chainsaws, leading to rapid forest depletion
- When
- Present, with significant activity noted in the last year
- Where
- Kamrup district, in both forest and non-forest areas
- Why
- Chainsaws are portable, easy to use, and quick, facilitating rapid felling and transportation of timber. Improved road networks also aid smugglers.
- Location
- Kamrup district, Assam
- Method
- Illegal tree felling using battery-powered chainsaws
- Affected Areas
- Forest and non-forest areas
- Recent Seizures (Kamrup West Forest division)
- 36 illegal timber-laden vehicles, 1 bench saw mill, 18 chainsaw machines in the last year