Lakhs worth rosewood and teak felled and smuggled, rampant tree felling in Adimaly

IDUKKI: Teak and rose wood trees are found to have felled and smuggled from the limits of Idukki Adimali range. This became clear during an investigation by Kothamangalam Flying Squad. The investigation team saw the new findings after examining the documents following tree-felling controversy.

Lakhs worth teak and rosewood trees have been found felled and smuggled from Anaviratty and Vellathooval villages. The teakwood found by the forest department officials at the timber mill in Kizhakkambalam Ambalamugal is confirmed to be from Adimali range.

The explanation is that massive teakwood and rosewood were felled and smuggled from Adimali range under the cover of the order by revenue secretary in October 2020. Further action will be taken on receipt of the report of the revenue authorities regarding the ownership of the land on which the trees were smuggled and felled down stood.

Meantime, the contractor who felled the trees and smuggled without permission during construction of the Udumbanchola-Chithirapuram road, failed to appear before the investigation team of the forest department. The CCTV footages obtained by the forest department show the trees were transported in a tipper lorry used for the road construction in Udumbanchola. The contractor had informed the investigation team that he is under home quarantine following suspicion of Covid-19.