Guwahati, June 28 -- Assam Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah has come under criticism from environmental activists after stating that increasing revenue collection would be one of his key priorities in the forest department. Conservationists argued that the department's foremost responsibility is safeguarding forests and wildlife, not maximising revenue.

Speaking to reporters in Guwahati on Sunday, Mallabaruah said the departments under his charge-Finance, Forest and Mining are all revenue-generating departments and that his focus would be on eliminating leakages in revenue collection.

He said the government does not intend to burden citizens with additional taxes and instead aims to improve efficiency in revenue colle...