Akola Foresters Seize Illicitly Felled Trees Worth Over ₹4 Lakh in Nagpur | Nagpur News – Times of India

Nagpur: Acting on a tip-off from green volunteers, Akola forest division officials seized tonnes of timber logs and felled trees, estimated to cost over ₹4 lakh over last two days.
The raids were conducted in Belkhed, Hiwarkhed, Telhara, and Akot under Akola range. The seized timber may be from over 300 small and big trees felled illicitly by petty contractors for sawmill owners.

Akola RFO VR Thorat said, “The seized timber measures over 52 cubic metres. Most of the trees felled are neem, babul, mango, pipal, and others. Five separate offences have been registered under Sections 40, 41, and 51 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927.”
TOI has been reporting large-scale illicit tree felling in the entire Akola division in the last few years. However, as no action was taken against the culprits, a complaint was lodged with forest secretary B Venugopal Reddy in December last, who intervened and some action was taken.
“However, there has been no let up in the felling of trees. The seizure of huge timber stock in the last two days has vindicated our stand. There was seizure of teak trees also but the seizure has not been put on record,” alleged Sheikh Munna Sheikh, founder of Nisarga Sawardhan Bahudddeshia Sanstha, Akola.
Sheikh said these trees are were allegedly felled from farmland and bunds, but the felling of trees from forest areas as well as roadside cannot be ruled out. The logs also don’t bear the forest department hammer.
“No mandatory permission from the forest officials under the Maharashtra Felling of Trees (Regulation) Act, 1964 is has been taken. A transit pass (TP) required to transport the timber was also not sought,” he said.