Three tractor-trailers laden with banned timber seized in Dehra
Dehra forest division has, in the second major crackdown on timber smugglers, within a week seized three tractor-trailers loaded with banned wood species after an intensive search operation that lasted around two-and-a-half-hours.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Dehra, Sunny Verma, on a tip-off on Thursday regarding pickup vehicles allegedly transporting timber illegally from the Dehra region, along with a team, set up a checkpoint at the Hanuman Chowk and directed the Block Officer to join the operation.
During checking, it became evident that the timber smugglers were operating in a coordinated manner. A timber-laden vehicle plying without a number plate was spotted. The Forest Department team signalled the vehicles to stop but they sped away towards the Haripur road. Teams in Haripur, Sadwan, Bankhandi and Dehra were immediately alerted and a blockade was established between Dehra and Haripur and an extensive search operation was launched.
After nearly two and a half hours of sustained efforts, forest officials intercepted three tractor-trailers. The vehicles were found transporting banned and unexempted timber species, including siris and kambal, to Punjab in violation of forest regulations.
Verma said that strict legal action under the Forest Act had been initiated against those involved. He added that only four forest species - poplar, safeda (eucalyptus), lasini and Japanese mulberry - were permitted to be felled. Cutting or transporting any other species without authorisation was completely illegal.
He said that even landowners would face stringent action if found involved in the illegal felling of the prohibited species. He urged property owners to comply with the regulations and refrain from supporting unlawful activities.
Ranger Officer (Nagrota Surian) Surender Saini, Block Officer (Dehra) Pawan, Block Officer (Bankhandi) Virender, Deputy Ranger Sunil, Forest Guards Abhishek (Bankhandi), Sandeep (Masroor Beat), Ratan (Tripal Beat), Kuldeep and Ashish (Haripur) along with other Forest Department personnel participated in the operation.
