Forest department starts probe in Konni tree felling case

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Forest Department has registered two cases at Padam Forest Station in connection with the illegal felling of a large number of trees from the Naduvathumuzhi range in the Konni Division. The investigation is headed by Konni range officer Sanjeev. Konni DFO Ayush Kumar Khori sought detailed information regarding the logging.

Yesterday, Kerala Kaumudi reported the incident of the illegal cutting of 108 trees from the ecologically sensitive area within the limits of Naduvathumuzhi Forest Range Office. The vigilance department of the police also started an investigation. Vigilance DYSP Hari Vadyadharan said that no written complaints have been received.

Two people took a pass from the forest department to cut trees on their land. However, the fraud happened in the guise of this pass. The illegal felling of trees took place under the guise of a wood-cutting pass in the lands of two persons in Aruvappulam village. 93 trees were cut down from revenue land, while 15 trees were cut down from forest land inhabited by tribals. It is alleged that a wood smuggling gang is behind it with the connivance of some forest officials in the Naduvathumuzhi range.

An unholy nexus of forest department officers and logging contractors are said to have teamed up in illegally cutting trees from revenue-owned outlying land and forest land inhabited by tribals. The trees were taken to the Pathanapuram region via the Njavanal check post.

Muhammad Bilal, beat forest officer of Padam station, who informed the forest intelligence and superiors about the looting of wood in Natuvathumoozhi range, has been transferred to Gavi station. The order came yesterday. He was immediately released from Padam station. In his career, Bilal was transferred eight times in three forest divisions in five years. These immediate punitive transfers go against the service norms.

It is alleged that some of those who have been subject to disciplinary action while working in various forest stations in the state are now working in the intelligence wing of the Konni Forest Division.