Six arrested for cutting down valuable trees from Meghpal forest reserve

JUJUMURA: Six people were arrested by the forest department on Saturday on charges of deforestation near Meghpal Forest Reserve in Padiabahal Range Meghpal Section. A Padiabahal forest department officer, led by Meghpal Forester Himanshu Seth, raided the area and found some people cutting down trees. Shawls, beeswax, asana, jamu,and spruce trees were found to have been cut down at the scene. The value of the felled tree is estimated to be more than Rs 13,000 lakh. Upendra Mirdha, 40, of Banjaritikira, Yuyumura police station, Sriram Mirdha, 41, of the same village, Alekh Mirdha, 34, of Machhodihi, Kisinda police station, Santosh Mirdha, 55, of Yusumura police station, Ghusuriabahal, 55, Yujumura police station. Kido (6) was arrested. The axes, other materials and logs used in the felling were confiscated from them. The seized tree is placed in the cloud beetle. All have been arraigned in court today.

It is worth noting that forests are now slowly shrinking in the local area. This is because people are cutting down forests and preparing farmland. This has been the case for the past few years since the advent of the New Forest Act. Locals and intruders are cutting down trees in protected forests. Under the new Forest Act, leases on forest lands where the beneficiaries have lived or farmed for 20 years can be leased in their name. Environmentalists say the deforestation has increased since the law was passed. Wildlife and elephants, on the other hand, are becoming the face of the village as trees are being cut down in the forest. On the other hand, there are thousands of acres of DPF4 (Demarcated Protection Forest) in the jujumura Block area. If the DFO wanted to turn this forest into protected land, the forest could be protected. But it is alleged that the forest department officials did not pay attention to this. If the forest department and the district administration do not pay attention to this, there will be further forest destruction and endangered wildlife.