Basudevpur: Locals expressed resentment over rampant tree felling in village forests under Basuevpur block in Bhadrak district with a group of mafia setting its sight on timbers.
The villagers said with efforts of the forest department, a large number of trees were planted on a vast patche of land at Edtal, Brahmanigan, Iram, Kumarpur, Jagannathour, Kalidaspur and Binayakpur villages, but these forests are on the verge of being extinct due to the timber mafia while the forest department failed to act against it.
Locals said, “Tree felling has now become regular in these forests. Timber mafia carts away truckloads of Akasia, casuarina, Arjun and other timbers. The forest will vanish soon if no step is taken to check this.”
They alleged that the forest department, which is supposed to protect ‘gramya jungle’, has completely failed. Three days ago, eight huge akasia trees were chopped off in Kalidaspur forest, they pointed out.
According to locals, the timber mafia has formed an unholy nexus with sawmill owners and regularly supply timbers to sawmills with impunity as the forest department took no action against them.
“The laxity on the part of the forest department has encouraged timber mafia to step up their activities,” said Anandananada Panda and Ratikant Panda, residents of Narasinghpur.
Some other villagers said often in the past they had opposed tree felling but forest officials do not carry out regular patrolling in and around the forest.
Social activist Chintamani Das of Chudamani area said, “If nothing is done immediately, the ‘gramya jungles’ will disappear soon.” The department should initiate action against the mafia besides paying heed to protection of forests, he noted.
Basudevpur ranger Mahendra Parida said initiatives are being taken to protect ‘gramya jungles’. “Legal action is being taken against those when they are caught chopping trees. Village committee has a greater role in protecting the village forests. The villagers should be active in protecting the forests,” the ranger observed. PNN