Keonjhar: A controversy broke out over a forest department’s order to cut big trees in Kalapat reserve forest under Telkoi range in Keonjhar with local tribals strongly resisting it.
According to a report, the forest department lays stress on forest protection and at the same time has issued an order to cut down big tree in the reserve forest. This has led to a conflict between the local tribals and forest officials working at the ground level.
“On one hand, the department is creating awareness against tree felling and arrest poor people when they are found cutting trees in forests. Ironically, the same department has identified tree to be chopped off. We are in confusion,” lamented people of Sarod village in Kaliahota panchayat.
About 35 tribal families living near the reserve forest depend on the minor forest produce. However, after the department gave an order for tree felling, the tribal families are worried.
The villagers said such an order has been issued without creating awareness among people while dry, dead, fallen and pest-infested trees are supposed to be disposed of, but many big good and healthy sal trees have been identified for cutting.
They alleged that the forest department was trying to cut down valuable tress in the name of removing unnecessary trees.
The villagers, who live in tune with the sylvan settings over years, have opposed the order to cut down trees by the forest department. Ward member Sulochana Marandi and all the villagers have written to the DFO, seeking an end to tree-cutting. They demanded their livelihood be protected with the protection of the forest and environment.
They pointed out that of the trees identified, 735 are good and healthy, which should be spared from cutting down. “Dead and dry trees may be removed,” they said.
Telkoi range is full of dense forests. Due to various reasons and diseases, tree usually die and fall down. As per the working plan of the forest department, such trees are marked in May and the Orissa Forest Development Corporation was asked to cut down over 4000 trees in six areas after permission from the MoEF.
DFO Santosh Joshi said, “No forest protection committee has been tasked to protect forests in the area. Cutting down of such unnecessary trees will rather strengthen environment and they may be useful for people.” PNN
