Forest Minister Vikram Usendi admitted in the State Assembly that illegal tree felling of sal, teakwood and other species took place in Dhamtari and Udhanti forest circles of the State.
‘A forest officer, assistant forest range officer and a forest guard have been suspended and departmental probe against them is underway,’ the minister said in a written reply to a question raised by Congress member Ambika Markam.
Usendi said that illegal tree felling had taken place in Birgudi of Dhamtari forest circle, South Singpur, Keregaon, Sankra and Undati forest circle of Gariyabandh between January and December 2012.
At Undati forest circle of Gariyabandh, the employees responsible for the illegal tree felling Ramsharan and the then assistant circle officer Arsi Kanhar, forest guard Pappu Miyan Qureshi and the then premise protector (West) Tenhi had been suspended and departmental probe initiated against them, he said.
Replying to another question raised by Congress member Nandkumar Patel, the minister said that tree felling had been allowed in the allotted coal block converted from forest land to Rajasthan State Power Development Corporation, Jaipur in Sarguja forest circle in Udaipur area, Usendi said. A total of 3,404 trees had been fallen in Udaipur area. There is a plan to fell 4841 trees during financial year 2012-13. However as part of compensatory forestation, 12.10 lakh saplings are proposed to be planted in 1,100 hectares, he said.