A river called Burha Nadi is a bane and boon both in the Palamu Tiger Reserve .
It is a bane so far it comes as a big hurdle in patrol of the protected forest Bandua as forest guards and trackers find it hard to wade through this waist deep flowing river.
The river is 60 to 70 meter wide and this season it has an all time high level of water following a massive rainfall in the region.
Burha River is an interstate river with one end in Chhatisgarh. Sources said this river is a boon for tree cutters and smugglers as on the yonder bank there are the protected forests and here the criminals are cutting trees, sawing it and then it is smuggled.
Deputy Director South division Mukesh Kumar said Burha River when in spate like at this time prevents intensive patrol by the forest guards and trackers and this is exploited by the tree cutters and smugglers.
He said despite all odds forest guards and trackers seized a pair of spotted deer horns at Bandua under Bareysarn range and recovered more than 200 pieces of sawn timber.
Kumar said, “We are trying to have a mechanized boat for our men to patrol forests lying across the other end of the river Burha.” Once we get the boat the timber mafia will begin to rue the luck. Kumar said forest personnel have identified the tree cutters and smugglers and for them days are running out. They have gone into hiding but can’t getaway any more, he said.