Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu promises strict action to curb illegal felling of trees

Shimla, August 28

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Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that the government would take strict action against anyone engaged in illegal felling, irrespective of whosoever is involved.

Replying to a call attention motion under Rule 62 raised by Banjar legislator Surinder Shourie, Sukhu said nobody would be allowed to fell green healthy trees as the government was committed to protecting forests. “In order to decentralise and simplify things, powers have been given to DFOs to allow felling of dry and dead trees so that this forest wealth does not decay and the state gets revenue,” he said.

Sukhu said the work for salvage of 836 trees of different species was awarded under the Seraj forest division in Kullu in the higher reaches in forests spread across 550 hectares. “I would like to inform the House that on inspection it has been found that 16 Tosh trees were cut illegally and not 400 trees as claimed by the MLA. An FIR has been registered and a penalty of Rs 99 lakh imposed on the contractor,” the Chief Minister stated.

Shourie raised the issue of rampant felling of green trees in the garb of salvage in the Seraj block in the absence of any standard operating procedure (SOP). “The government is claiming that efforts are being made to enhance green cover through plantation campaigns but there have been several instances of illegal felling of green trees in Kori, Tara Devi, Dada Siba and now in Kullu,” he said. A large number of trees are cut for being used as fuel wood which is causing damage to our forest wealth,” Shourie pointed out.

The MLA alleged that when tenders for salvage are issued, green trees are felled with the connivance of officials of the forest department and the villagers. He said it is under the garb of salvage that green trees are being felled across the state. “The government must formulate a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for the felling of trees as there is no geo-tagging or other proper record,” said Shourie.