Probe ordered into khair tree felling

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 10

Minister for Forest and Transport Gobind Singh Thakur has ordered an inquiry into reports of felling of 19 khair trees in Rakkar Chauli Forest in Dehra. He has asked officials of the Forest Department to submit a report in the matter to him and police officials so that action can be taken against the culprits.

While talking to The Tribune, Thakur said he had also asked the Forest Department to constitute flying squad teams to check illicit felling of trees all over the state.

A case of illegal felling of trees had come to his notice in Indora area of Kangra district and the department had arrested six people in the case.

The minister said that action could also be initiated against the officials in case they fail to discharge their duties in checking the illegal felling of trees in the state.

Acacia catechu of the khair tree is grown in the mid-Himalayan region of the state, especially Una, Kangra, Hamirpur and Bilaspur districts. The tree is of commercial value as katha that is used in pan and its stem is used in making medicines.

The Forest Department allows private owners of forests to fell khair trees as per the management plan. However, since tree stem is in great demand due to its commercial value, it is also felled illegally on large scale.

Sources here said that there were bulk dealers of khair trees in the state and the border areas of Punjab. These dealers buy illegally felled khair tree stems from unemployed youth of the state. In fact, unemployed youth are employed by these dealers for felling trees and sell these to them. Generally, the bulk dealers have their godowns in borders areas of Punjab. The youth are paid petty sums ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 for bringing khair wood to dealers.