Published On : Mon, Sep 10th, 2018

Around 2.5 lakh Teak trees cut illegally in Maha

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Nagpur : Despite a ban on felling of trees, a total of 2,34,216 Teak trees were illegally cut during the last five and a quarter years in the State. This caused a loss of Rs 25,95,27,000 to the Forest department, which has a huge force to check deforestation and protect the forest areas.

Forests are very important factor for preservation of environment and the government takes many steps to protect these forests. The government has banned felling of all type of trees, including Teak. If it becomes very necessary to cut a tree, a valid reason has to be furnished and the Forest department’s permission is required for the same. Securitymen of Forest department under the supervision of officers concerned are deployed to protect forests. It may be mentioned that 75% of the State’s total forest area is in Vidarbha region.

In a shocking revelation, an RTI (Right to Information) reply stated that 2,34,216 Teak trees were illegally cut between 1 January 2013 to 31 March 2018 thus causing a loss of Rs 25,95,27,000 to the Forest department. If other trees are also included, then a total of 5,61,410 trees were cut illegally causing a total loss of Rs 34,56,85,000 to the Forest department. This huge number of felling of trees has raised question on the working of the Forest department, which is responsible to every tree under its forest area.

RTI activist Abhay Kolarkar said that felling of trees in forest areas was very worrisome issue and Forest department could not run away from its responsibility.