A forester and a forest guard of the Chidiyapur forest range of Haridwar forest division have been suspended in connection with the alleged illegal felling of Khair trees.
The forest department has set up a probe into the matter for further investigation.
The Haridwar divisional forest officer HK Singh said, “We received the information that seven Khair trees were being felled in the Kotawali beat of Chidiyapur forest range. A site visit confirmed the information. Following this, forester Maya Mohan Kandwal and forest guard Sunder lal have been suspended in connection to the felling.”
It is learnt that the two officials did not inform the higher officials of the felling of trees.
Notably, Khair trees are considered quite valuable with their parts being used in preparation of herbal medicines. Felling such trees sans official permission from the forest department is illegal.