Sambalpur: Valuable timber worth lakhs of rupees is being smuggled daily out of reserve forests in Sambalpur district in broad daylight under the very nose of agencies that have been tasked with protecting the forest produce, a report said.
A decade back, people were scared of visiting the forests under Naktideula, Rairakhol, Jujumura, Dhama, Sadar, Jamankira, Kuchinda, Bamra and Rengali forest divisions. But at present, wood smugglers manage to fell valuable trees by greasing the palms of unscrupulous forest officials, it is learnt.
It is alleged that logs are transported from these forests to Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Kuchinda, Deogarh, Rairakhol, Subarnapur and Angul towns with the knowledge of forest officials.
Though special squads in every range offices are in place to protect the forest and check unlawful cutting of trees, they have failed miserably to curb the illegalities, according to locals.
Similarly, forest conservation committees have been formed in villages on the outskirts of the reserved forests. The committees also receive regular funds from the government to safeguard the forest. But both the squads and the committees often show no resolve towards checking the loot of forest treasure, it is said.
Though forest officials conducted raids on 25 locations in the last eight months and seized valuable logs and vehicles, they failed to arrest anyone in this connection. Meanwhile, accused persons in many cases are roaming scot-free.
On the other hand, acres of forest land have reportedly been encroached upon by some locals and people of other states. Though the forest officials are aware of the development, they prefer not to initiate any action against the encroachers for reasons best known to them. Besides, they are also accused of inaction when it comes to probing rampant hunting of wild animals and birds in the reserve forest. Resentment is growing over the alleged indifference of the forest officials.
“Rampant deforestation is gradually taking its toll on the environment while the department doesn’t bother to prevent it,” Prasanna Kumar Biswal, an activist from Rengali, said.
Bachan Singh, president of forest conservation committee of Larpanka in Hirakud, said the forest officials hardly visit the reserved forest while there is no boundary wall to protest the woods. This has made the entry of the mafia in to the forest easy, he added. PNN