Forest Department confiscates Rs 3 lakh worth of Kuddu timber wood

Jujumura: The Forest Department has seized a ten-wheeler truck loaded with Kuddu wood from the Brahmaninali rural forest in the jujumura section of the Sambalpur Sadar Range. Basiapada Forester Prashant Oram, guard Leena Das and Squad led by Sadar Ranger Akshay Maharana raided the spot around 3.30pm on Monday night, sources said. However, the timber mafia returned before the forest department arrived. Contacting Mr. Maharana in this regard, he said that the market value of the seized timber would be around Rs 3 lakh. So this wood is usually used to make toys. He said the timber was being shipped to Raipur. The Forest Service is investigating. The truck was also seized and kept at the Sambalpur Forest Department office premises.