Post News Network
Jhumpura, April 27: In what may come as wanton destruction of state’s forest wealth, hundreds of plants and herbs of medicinal value are being felled in the name of development in several panchayats under this block of Keonjhar district.
This has reportedly not bothered the revenue and forest officials despite lodging complaints with them in the past.
Forests are being destroyed in Dhanurjaypur area under Malda panchayat in the name of doubling of rail track while lands belonging to the tribal also excavated to meet the need of soil for the project. Similarly, murram quarrying is still on destroying the Naupani and Hatidari forests for laying roads of rural development department. It has been alleged that the tehsil keeps mum despite several complaints were lodged with them in this regard. Tehsil authorities collect some revenues when the issues are raised by the media but no actions are taken against the contractors who mindlessly destroy the forest, locals said.
One more irregularity came to the fore during the doubling of rail track in Malda panchayat. The number of trees felled are more than required for the construction of a bridge, the hills hollowed out and stones of huge sizes are dumped in the forest. This heap of stone can destroy large number of trees and damage the old rail track if they slide. It would also block the panchayat road, locals said.
A complaint in this regard was lodged with tehsil as well as forest department following which the work was stopped. Though forest department had written a letter to Jhumpura tehsil for a joint investigation in the issue, there is no headway even as two months have elapsed. When contacted, tehsildar Shiv Topa said a probe would soon be conducted.
Reports said the forest areas under Kutugaon, Nayagarh, Malda and Basantpur panchayats of the block are thickly covered with valuable trees like Sal, Piasal, Dumuri, Kashi, Asan, Arjun and Neem. Apart from that, the medicinal herbs like Harida, Bahada and Amla are also part of the forest. These tribal-dominated pockets are not only surrounded by high rise hills and natural falls, they are also home to several wild animals. However, locals alleged these forests are yet to be given the status of reserved forest. On the contrary, these are accorded District Level Committee (DLC) forest and have been kept under tehsil’s control.
Contacted, Champua ranger Srirampada Arabinda Mishra of forest department said we can prevent illegal felling of tree in these forests but a joint investigation with revenue department is essential if damages are done to the forest or stone quarrying goes on in the name of developmental works.
