Bhadrak: Timber smuggling has been rampant in various parts of Bhadrak while the forest department has allegedly been looking the other way. The timber smugglers have laid a well-knit network across the district due to an unholy nexus with unscrupulous forest officials.
Illegal sawmills have flourished owing to rampant timber smuggling, it was alleged.
Locals and various outfits expressed concern that the number of valuable tree has declined while several sawmills have flourished due to supply of timbers by the mafia. Even illegal sawmills have been operating in Bhadrak town despite the curbs on sawmills.
Truckloads of timbers are transported in front of police headquarters office every day. It was alleged that the forest department and the administration blinked at the illegal activities.
Even though officials of Bhadrak range claimed that several vehicles carrying timbers have been seized, illegal timber trade worth lakhs of rupees has been going on in the district. Locals said a sawmill, if once raided by forest officials, resumes business after six months.
According to a rough estimate, 20 truckloads of timbers are supplied to sawmills from outside the district.
On the other hand, the forest department has little concern for protection of valuable plants in the district. Bhadrak ranger Prafulla Sahu has no information about how many plants were planted in the range in 2017.
Some forest officials allegedly receive regular cuts from timber smugglers and sawmill owners. The result is that illegal timber trade is going on in broad day light in several village jungles in Basudevpur area, it was learnt.
Recently, Vigilance had caught Basudevpur IIC Bulu Munda while he was receiving bribe from timber smugglers. Another ASI was suspended for taking bribe.
Recently, it was reported that some police officials had struck a deal with the timber mafia and set free a truck loaded with timbers in Dhamnagar area.
Ranger Prafulla Kumar Sahu said the department has kept a close watch on sawmills.
