Officials fell trees in forest under the garb of permission in farms
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NAGPUR: Mystery shrouds large-scale felling of big teak trees in the forest near Tiraya in South Umred range under the garb of permission to fell trees in farms belonging to forest officials. A senior forest official has ordered an enquiry.
On Sunday evening, range forest officer (RFO) of South Umred LM Belekar seized a truckload of teak wood near Botezari, 60km from Nagpur. Unconfirmed sources say the consignment also had sandalwood trees.
The wood was loaded from the farms owned by some retired forest officers and the sitting assistant conservator of forest (ACF) RD Kharabe of Nagpur division. The farms are spread over 32 acre area in Tiraya encompassing forest area and hence felling of trees in forest area cannot be ruled out.
"We had issued a transit pass (TP) to the contractor for 3 cubic metres of wood. However, 6 cubic metres of wood was being transported. This means 3 cubic metres was being illegally brought. We are trying to find out from where the remaining trees were brought from," said Belekar. Truck owner Kailash Ramteke, Dighori, and driver Akhlesh Prajapati, Wathoda, have been booked and their statements recorded.
Sources said the additional timber belongs to forest area and was chopped under the permission granted to fell trees in farms by tree officer. ACF Kharabe is in charge of Umred and getting requisite permissions was not an issue.
BSK Reddy, additional principal chief conservator of forests ( APCCF) for protection, said, "If it has happened, it is a serious issue. I have ordered a probe. Divisional forest officer (vigilance) P D Masram will inquire into the felling."
Kharabe denied felling in forest. He admitted that six forest officials include him had bought the farms in 32 acres some 15 years ago. The trees being transported did not belong to his farm but four other officials.
"All the seized wood bears hammer marks. The additional timber which was found in the truck was stolen by the contractor from one of the farms," Kharabe said. However, an honest probe will only reveal the facts.
According to Supreme Court ruling of December 12, 1996, The word "forest" must be understood according to its dictionary meaning. This description covers all statutorily 'recognized forests, whether designated as reserved, protected or otherwise for the purpose of Section 2 (1) of the Forest Conservation Act. The term 'forest land', occurring in Section 2, will not only include "Forest" as understood in the dictionary sense, but also any area recorded as forest in the government record irrespective of the ownership.
On Sunday evening, range forest officer (RFO) of South Umred LM Belekar seized a truckload of teak wood near Botezari, 60km from Nagpur. Unconfirmed sources say the consignment also had sandalwood trees.
The wood was loaded from the farms owned by some retired forest officers and the sitting assistant conservator of forest (ACF) RD Kharabe of Nagpur division. The farms are spread over 32 acre area in Tiraya encompassing forest area and hence felling of trees in forest area cannot be ruled out.
"We had issued a transit pass (TP) to the contractor for 3 cubic metres of wood. However, 6 cubic metres of wood was being transported. This means 3 cubic metres was being illegally brought. We are trying to find out from where the remaining trees were brought from," said Belekar. Truck owner Kailash Ramteke, Dighori, and driver Akhlesh Prajapati, Wathoda, have been booked and their statements recorded.
Sources said the additional timber belongs to forest area and was chopped under the permission granted to fell trees in farms by tree officer. ACF Kharabe is in charge of Umred and getting requisite permissions was not an issue.
BSK Reddy, additional principal chief conservator of forests ( APCCF) for protection, said, "If it has happened, it is a serious issue. I have ordered a probe. Divisional forest officer (vigilance) P D Masram will inquire into the felling."
Kharabe denied felling in forest. He admitted that six forest officials include him had bought the farms in 32 acres some 15 years ago. The trees being transported did not belong to his farm but four other officials.
"All the seized wood bears hammer marks. The additional timber which was found in the truck was stolen by the contractor from one of the farms," Kharabe said. However, an honest probe will only reveal the facts.
According to Supreme Court ruling of December 12, 1996, The word "forest" must be understood according to its dictionary meaning. This description covers all statutorily 'recognized forests, whether designated as reserved, protected or otherwise for the purpose of Section 2 (1) of the Forest Conservation Act. The term 'forest land', occurring in Section 2, will not only include "Forest" as understood in the dictionary sense, but also any area recorded as forest in the government record irrespective of the ownership.
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