Illegal tree felling detected in Nalagarh forest division

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, December 16

A case of illegal felling of hundreds of trees exposing negligence of the forest staff has come to light in the Khokra forest area of the Nalagarh Forest Division.

The trees, which were axed from a forest area and a majority of which belonged to the government, comprised various species, including khair which is valued highly in the market due to its use in various edible products.

Forest officials swung into action when they received media queries over the issue today. In a bid to cover up large-scale illicit felling, a complaint was made to the police. The complaint mentioned illegal felling of 165 trees though more than 400 stumps could be counted in the affected areas.

Though forest officials have claimed that a majority of the land belonged to one individual Amar Nath, it is known that he owned only a small chunk of land from the affected area and a bigger chunk comprised the government land. No felling can be undertaken on government land.

Even in the case of private land, due permission is supposed to be sought from the Forest Department.

When asked, Conservator, Bilaspur Circle, Anil Thakur, said he had constituted a committee headed by DFO (Headquarters) Pawanbir Chandel to ascertain the type of the land involved, the number of trees felled and whether any permission was sought for this purpose from the Forest Department or not.

He, however, added that the land belonged to one individual Amar Nath hailing from Khokra village as per information received from the concerned division office at Nalagarh. The exact position would be known only after an inquiry.

He also said this activity appeared to be going on for the last at least a month and a half adding that accountability of the staff would also be fixed after receipt of the inquiry report.

As a delayed action, Conservator, Bilaspur Circle, Anil Thakur, has directed the DFO Nalagarh to place the concerned guard, Sanjay Kumar, under suspension for negligence in detecting the large-scale felling of trees. There was no Range Officer in the said forest range as the earlier incumbent was transferred more than two months ago.

Superintendent of Police, Baddi police district, G Shiva, said demarcation of the affected land would be done. If the land involved was a private land, the Forest Department was competent to take action. He said an FIR for theft would be registered only if it was a government land.

There was no sign of the wood which appears to have been conveniently lifted and taken away though more than 400 stumps could be counted at the site, thus exposing connivance of the staff.