The teakwood forests spreading over 16,733 square hector in Banpur are now under severalty distortion due to large-scale loot of forest produces in knowledge of the Forest Departmental officials during the last two years.
The forests include Tamana, Arango, Katuala, Rajana and Bankada. Notably, in 1903, the British Government had declared the Aranga and Bankada as the Reserved Forests, whereas the rest of the forests were declared so by the State Government in 1985.
Further to prevent timbers loot, the State Government had deployed the Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) in the forests till 2012. However, after the cyclone Phailin last year, timbers are widely being looted with the help of forest officers, including Divisional Forest office staff, locals alleged.
Presently the entre forest has taken a form of a playground and no new trees have been planted by the concerned department. Meanwhile, the entire Government functionaries receive a lot of monetary benefits, alleged a villager.
The locals also demanded a CBI enquiry in to the matter and immediate appropriate step by the State Government to save the forests.