129 trees axed in Solan village

SOLAN: As many as 129 trees were illegally axed at Shilli village near here in violation of the Land Preservation Act 1978

Updated At : 06:36 AM Mar 17, 2018 IST

As per the procedure, an area, earmarked under the felling programme, is first demarcated after obtaining a felling order from the SDM and then trees are marked by the field staff of the Forest and Revenue Department.

Tribune News Service

Solan, March 16

As many as 129 trees were illegally axed at Shilli village near here in violation of the Land Preservation Act, 1978. The case came to light two days ago following which a complaint was lodged with the police by the Block Forest Officer, Solan.

According to the complaint, felled trees included 97 pine trees. The land belongs to Rajinder Singh, who had converted it into a kiwi orchard. No permission had been sought from forest officials for axing these trees, said Divisional Forest Officer RS Jaswal.

The case has, however, put a question mark on the working of the field staff since it was an area where the 10-year felling programme was under way, the field staff were supposed to monitor the trees. Since it was adjoining a forest area, senior forest officials were supposed to maintain a vigil on the land. While 129 trees could not have been axed overnight, the field staff appear to have deliberately turned a blind eye to the felling.

The forest officials claim that the wood was recovered from the site but one wondered why the owner had not taken permission to axe these trees, if the intent was to pursue a horticulture activity.

As per the laid down procedure, an area, earmarked under the 10-year felling programme, is first demarcated after obtaining a felling order from the SDM and then trees are marked by the field staff of the Forest and Revenue Department. Two lists are prepared where 66 per cent trees are supposed to be felled and 33 per cent are to be retained.

DFO Jaswal said the land owner took advantage of the fact that felling was taking place under the 10-year felling programme and the illicit felling would be concealed.

This was the second such case which had come to light in the last about 10 days in the Solan forest division. In the earlier case, 93 trees had been illegally axed.

Additional SP Shiv Kumar confirmed that a case under various sections of the Land Preservation Act, 1978, and Section 32 and 33 of the Indian Forest Act has been registered.

Field staff’s carelessness?

The case has put a question mark on the working of the field staff as being an area where the 10-year felling programme was under way, the field staff were supposed to monitor the trees. Since it was adjoining a forest area, senior forest officials were supposed to maintain a vigil on the land. While 129 trees could not have been axed overnight, the field staff appear to have deliberately turned a blind eye to the felling.