Post News Network
Patapur, June 7: Lakhari reserve forest in Ganjam district is on verge of extinction as it has turned into safe haven for timber mafia, poachers and other anti-social elements. A few decades ago, the jungle was habitat for a large number of tigers, elephants and other endangered wild animals and birds, a scene not visible anymore as it is difficult to trace a single wild animal in the forest.
According to the animal census report of 1982, there were 124 elephants and 138 tigers in the reserve forest. However, during the last two decades, the number of animals has considerably gone down. According to 2004-05 census report, there were only 13 tigers and 102 elephants.
The local residents have alleged that even these numbers are only on papers. In fact, not a single tiger was traced in the area.
Some unscrupulous elements have been cultivating hemp plants in Podamari and Chandragiri forest ranges. Poaching of wild animals is also rampant in these areas, the residents alleged. With the forest cover going down due to indiscriminate chopping of trees, the wild animals stray into human habitation and cause destructions to lives and properties. The bamboo trees in the forest have disappeared due to indiscriminate chopping. As a result, elephants stray into villages in search of food.
According to sources, firewood along with large number of timber logs chopped from Taptapani, Belagada, Kandha Nuagaon, Dasheipur, Rajpur, Nerendrapur, Khemundi Khol and Sriram Nagar areas are transported by trucks, tractors, auto-rickshaws and sometimes even by cycles outside the forest. Though these vehicles pass through the forest check gate at Podamari, the forest staff are least bothered to check them. Sources added that the forest department employees are working in connivance with the timber mafia.
On occasions, the mafia set fire in several parts of the forest with the help of locals on the pretext of shifting the cultivation. The forest officials allegedly help them in selecting sites to set fire. Moreover, they also decide the place to which the timber and charcoal should be transported and even the possible selling price of these produces.
The Podamari forest officials never lodge any complaint against the people violating the norms, the residents alleged. According to official sources, 395 cases were registered by the Podamari forest division. However, only 84 persons were arrested till date. Not a single case has been registered in 2015. Moreover, there is no record of the materials seized by the forest department officials.
According to sources, the action by the forest department officials is only a formality to only to meet the target.
When contacted, Podamari forest ranger Fakir Charan Behera said the department has taken all the possible measures to check smuggling of timber, forest produces and marijuana from the forest. However, it was not possible to conduct frequent raids due to shortage of staff in the department.
