7 months ago
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The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has suspended a wood scope officer, 2 foresters and a wood defender connected Wednesday night.
According to reliable sources, the section has suspended Thiruniraiselvan, Amsaganapathi, Subash and Venkatraman.
Following complaints that a ample fig of trees, including Shola taxon and among others, on the Berijam Lake and Mannavanur Road successful precocious Kodaikanal hills were being felled and allegedly sold to timber merchants, the vigilance squad from the section had conducted preliminary inquiries.
Two days ago, it was said that a squad led by elder officers conducted carnal checks connected the spot and recovered that the allegations were true. After preliminary inquiries, they placed nether suspension the 4 employees. It is apt that the section whitethorn contented complaint soon against the suspended employees and aboriginal instrumentality enactment based connected the response.
Activists request transgression action
As the quality dispersed astir the suspension, eco-activists present person appealed to the Tamil Nadu authorities to beryllium strict and transparent successful its action. In the larger involvement of protecting the eco-system, the authorities should beryllium much stringent and punish arsenic per the laws, said Palani Hills Council erstwhile caput N. Arun Shankar.
Speaking to The Hindu connected Thursday, helium said that the felling was amerciable and carried retired successful reserve wood area. The estimated nonaccomplishment to the exchequer whitethorn beryllium astir ₹50 lakh and it was apt that implicit 1,200 trees whitethorn person been felled. The authorities should registry transgression lawsuit against them and discreet probe should besides beryllium conducted.
While determination are stipulated guidelines to transportation retired felling of trees, the suspended officials had themselves indulged successful the amerciable activity, helium charged and urged the authorities to heighten the probe arsenic determination whitethorn beryllium elder officers excessively who were progressive and they should not beryllium allowed to roam scot-free successful this peculiar incident, helium said.
“When trees are grown successful patta land, support is the foremost happening sought by the owners and lone aft obtaining permit, the trees tin beryllium felled. When specified was the procedure, felling trees, that excessively successful the RF (reserve forest) area, showed the brazen authorization arsenic if challenging the system. The situation successful Berijam Lake would suffer its sheen if specified amerciable felling continued. Thus the authorities should not amusement immoderate leniency, Mr Arun Shankar added.
A elder serviceman successful the Forest Department said that the Tamil Nadu authorities had done a G.O. 136 stated that merchantability of wood - debarked wattle wood, wattle bark and firewood successful the elevation presumption shall beryllium arranged for merchantability by e-auction done the Metal Scrap Trade Corporation.
