Post News Network
Konark, Dec 1: Inaction on the part of forest officials might soon lead to the complete destruction of the Ramachandi forest with the wood mafia felling trees at will, say locals.
“The forest, part of the Balukhand Sanctuary which is home to rare black buck and deer, is on the verge of annihilation owing to unabated felling of trees. Hence the deer, which are forced to venture out in search of food, are often killed in road mishaps,” Benudhar Khatua, a local, alleged.
The forest was earlier being overseen by Basudev Forest Conservation Samiti and was protected well. However, things changed after the forest came under the control of the forest department, local Gandharv Nayak averred.
The samiti was also bestowed official recognition in 2002 following a recommendation by then district collector who had lauded it for its efforts in protecting the forest from wood smugglers.
The forest department took charge of the forest April 27, 2013 following a dispute between samiti members and some villagers living adjacent to the sanctuary.
However, the department is neither checking the rampant wood smuggling nor is it doing enough to tap into the forest’s resources, locals alleged. When the forest was under the control of the samiti, around 140 quintal of cashew nut was collected during the cashew growing season, but now the department is collecting a meagre 20 quintal of cashew nut, complain villagers, who say it is affecting their livelihood.
When contacted, local forest officer Prashant Swain said he recently joined office and was yet to have a clear picture of the ground scenario. Efforts are on to protect wild animals in the forest and check wood smuggling, he added.
