Kakatpur: Forest department officials, Thursday, raided three illegal sawmills in Astarang area and seized equipment worth Rs 1 lakh.
The officials also registered three separate cases against the owners of the sawmills—Abhaya Kumar Jena, Debi Ojha and Chhabi Biswal.
A team of Forest department led by Puri assistant conservator of forests (ACF) Rabinarayan Mahapatra, Konark ranger Aditya Narayan Mishra and Gop ranger Kanhu Charan Sethi along with police raided the illegal sawmills.
Locals, meanwhile, alleged that at least 30 illegal sawmills have been operating in Astarang area for last several years.
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