Former MlA Arun Dey on Monday alleged that a few self-centred people have been looting the State’s forest wealth for long on account of Government inaction, forcing tribals suffer a lot.
Addressing a Press meet, Dey said a vast patch of forest, which had been groomed and guarded by tribals of Sureisahi village under Raibania block in Baleswar district, has been destroyed.
While a BJD leader has grabbed about 30 acres of the forest land, another area of about 30 acres has been given to the Soil Conservation department for cashew plantation, alleged Day.
While the department was felling trees on Saturday, locals opposed it and seized cutting equipment, tractors and JCB machines. When forest officials went to intervene,
they too were detained by the people.
“Tribals depend on forest produce to earn their living. The Government should protect their interests,” he demanded.
When contacted, DFO HB Udgata said, “The patch of land in Sureisahi doesn’t come under reserved forest area and hence the the department can’t do anything.” Tehsildar Ramchandra Kisku said, “I don’t know to which department the patch belongs. I will verify it soon.”