Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik, raising concern over illegal felling of trees in the state, said inter-state smugglers are active in the state and forest department ground staff and officers have totally failed to stop the menace.
He alleged that in Udanti and Kanger Valley national sanctuary, continuous felling of trees is a major problem. The forest department has not taken any stern action even after in Gariaband district trees stood over more than 3 square kilometres of area have been razed. It directly points towards the active involvement of forest mafia, he added.
Kaushik said in Udanti Sanctuary, which is a wildlife protected area, entry is banned but illegally the smugglers have entered into 3-4 kilometres inside the forest to cut down trees, which points out towards involvement of forest department staff.
It is surprising that forest department is unaware that pulse crops are being grown in denuded area, the BJP leader said.
Kaushik sought a high-level inquiry into the matter to bring to book all those responsible and said the whole issue will be raised in the state assembly.
Recently, tribal residents of Gariaband district called on forest minister Mohammed Akbar and lodged complaint of illegal felling of trees after which around 30 people were arrested. The arrestees had come from Odisha. The gang reportedly has 45 members.
The felling of trees has been done in forest area of Mainpur in villages of Dhanaura-Pipalkhunta, Haldikachar, Puripathara, Kusumkariya and nearby villages. Mainly the commercial timber of teak and other trees have been cut down and smuggled.
As per complaint, more than 10,000 hectares of forest trees have been already cut. Pipalkhunta village is situated at around 18 kilometres from Odisha border.
The local villagers had been lodging complaints about illegal felling of trees with local forest department employees and officials but no action was taken after which they approached the forest minister.