Guwahati, Aug. 5 -- A growing standoff has emerged within Assam's forest department over the unauthorized diversion of reserve forest land in Hailakandi and Geleky, with the Central government repeatedly urging action against a senior official, while the State government appears reluctant to comply.

At the center of the controversy is Sandeep Kumar, the current Head of Forest Force (HoFF), who has received multiple requests from the Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in Shillong, demanding clarity on action taken against his predecessor, MK Yadava, according to The Assam Tribune.

In a letter dated July 15, the Deputy Inspector General of Forests (Central) at the MoEF&CC's Guwahati sub-off...