West Bengal: Timber Trader Alleges 8-Year Administrative Harassment by Forest Corporation

Kolkata: A timber merchant belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community from West Bengal has alleged continuous administrative harassment and financial loss over the past eight years, involving the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation (WBFDC).

According to the trader, despite fulfilling all government terms and conditions and winning bids through official timber auctions, his auction portal access has been repeatedly blocked and revoked by divisional authorities without valid justification.

Allegations of Systemic Obstruction and Financial Damage

The merchant stated that since 2017, his legitimate business operations have faced persistent hurdles due to local political harassment and collusion among certain officials and rival merchants. Although his portal was approved and reopened multiple times by higher authorities, routine raw material purchases and bidding permissions were repeatedly stalled at the operational level.

The prolonged legal and administrative struggle over the last eight years has severely impacted his liquid capital, forcing him into heavy debt to support his family while trying to keep the business viable.

Demand for Compensation and Administrative Review

With a comprehensive record of documentation covering the eight-year period, the trader has sought legal recourse to claim damages for career disruption, mental anguish, and financial loss amounting to lakhs of rupees.

He has urged the state government and relevant forest department authorities to intervene, review his documentation, ensure fair compensation, and restore unhindered access to the auction portal so he can restart his business operations.