Chhattisgarh government has registered a complaint Primary Offence Report (POR) against Chief Executive Officer of NCL, V.S. Prabhakar - a JV between National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) for illegal felling of trees in Deposite-13 in Dantewada district’s Bailadila hill.
Chhattisgarh’s Forest Minister Mohammad Akbar informed media persons that after instructions by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel the forest department had started a probe into the matter of illegal felling of trees in deposite-13.
He further informed that Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Dantewada has launched probe into the matter of alleged fake gram sabha too and had sought documents from concerned departments.
The minister further informed that the probe committee which is investigating into the matter of illegal felling of trees in the deposit-13 includes Assistant Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Atul Shukla, Chief Conservator of Forest Bastar, Dr B.P. Nonhare, District Forest Officer R.K. Jangde, two rangers and 10 beat guards.
The team has till now done probe of two of the 9 compartments which is spread in 315.8 hectares, the minister briefed news persons.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Rakesh Chaturvedi further informed that the case has been registered after prima facie it was found true that the JV was responsible for illegal felling of 98 trees on February 26, 2019.