NewsKarnataka-Belthangady
Belthangady: Several precious trees were felled by the timber mafia from the reserved lands that was earmarked for rehabilitating tribal families in Sulkeri village in the taluk.
The then Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav had issued orders earmarking 190 acres land in order to rehabilitate tribal families at Naikaguri in Sulkeri village in the taluk during April 2011. Accordingly, the land was surveyed under survey number 65/1P. The timber mafia has been felling precious wild varieties of trees that are located in this land one after the other.
The timber mafia felled a huge rosewood tree located on the access road of Nekkaraje to earmarked land, in Sulkeri village recently. The heavy duty wood cutter has been used to make 7 lengths of 10 feet sizes. Each size has been peeled off its bark and readied for transporting. It would be about 50 CFT and worth about Rs 40,000. The branches were scattered over the logs. Its about 5 days since the tree has been felled, informed the locals.
The locals complained that a certain Anand and Kotyappa yane Somayya who have put up huts in state-owned land are trying to level the plot. Besides, the timber mafia has been felling several trees on the state-owned land where 5 tribal families who were evicted from Kudremukh National Park are living, informed the locals.
Meanwhile, the forest department seemed unconcerned over timber mafia who are looting the nature’s treasure in the state-owned lands.