Probe ordered in illegal tree felling at Panduka
| Date :01-Jan-2020 |
Trees girdled and cut at Panduka.
Staff Reporter :
RAIPUR,
Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF), Eco-Tourism Kaushalendra Kumar has ordered CCF Wildlife and Regional Director of Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve H L Ratre to probe the reported cases of illegal tree felling for Forest Rights titles in Panduka area as published in ‘The Hitavada’. Citing the reports published on ‘The Hitavada’ on December 17, 2019, wildlife & environment conservationist Nitin Singhvi had written to Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), Wildlife Atul Shukla, apprising him with the mass scale clearing of jungles at Birowar beat of the Panduka range under the protection of Forest officials. The news article talked about Munara no 04, 49 and 150 with pictures of trees with marks of girdling.
As it the Forest Rights Act 2005 mandates that only those living on the forest land before December 13, 2005 are eligible for the Forest Right Certificate, but there were large scale distributions to ineligibles. Singhvi requested the Department to refer to Google Map images to corroborate with the status of forest in the region before and after 2005.
It’s crucial to mention here the allegedly Birodar beat guard Kamal Netam and villagers are responsible for illegal cutting of trees. Dozens of Sal and different varieties of trees are cut down. Beat Guard Kamal Netam is posted as Beat Guard at Birodar Beat for past many years at compartment no 149 and 151 of the Forest Range Panduka. In Birodar beat under the Panduka Forest Range, with the same Munara, Kharkhara resident Kushal Patel cut the lush green trees and allegedly captured about 10 acres of land. Similarly, Chandan Sahu reported to have occupied 5 acre forest land.