Illegal tree felling in Konni

By Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

PATHANAMTHITTA, JUNE 6. The Aruvappulam village officer, Mr V.A. Divakaran, was suspended by the District Collector, Mr. S. Sukumaran, on Monday following a controversy over illegal felling of 29 trees from the Revenue poramboke land at Oottupara in Konni.

The tress were cut down from the five-acre revenue poramboke land adjacent to the 13-acre private property of Mr Ashok John of Mammootil Estate recently. The trees cut down include Thembavu (Terminalia Crenulata), Venthekku (Calycarpa Indica), Thanni (Terminalia Chebula), Kadamaram (Xylia Dolabriformis), Venga (Pterocarpus Marsupium) and Anjili (Artocarpus Hirsutus). Since Thembavu is a protected species clearance from the Forest Department is needed for felling the trees.

A forest team led by the Naduvathummoozhy range officer, Mr. P.K. Renjan, had inspected the site and registered a case against Mr Ashok John in connection with the felling of the Thembavu trees.

Forest office sources at Konni say that Mr Ashok John had approached the forest range office at Naduvathummoozhi for permission to cut the Thembavu trees, which he claimed, stood in his private property. And he had obtained a no-objection certificate from the village officer concerned for cutting the trees. However, the forest range officer objected to the felling of the trees.

The village officer, it is learnt, had subsequently tried to `correct his mistakes' by stating before the Forest Department that he was unaware of the details regarding the land concerned at the time of issuing the certificate.

The District Collector has ordered an inquiry into the tree felling and said that strict action would be taken against those found guilty. The Adoor sub-collector, Mr A.J. Rajan, and the deputy director (Survey), Mr K.A. John, will lead the inquiry.

The deputy director (Survey) conducted a detailed survey of the Revenue Poramboke at Oottupara today.

The stumps of the Thembavu trees cut down have been found burnt in an attempt to destroy evidence. It is alleged that many logs of Thembavu have already been taken away from the site by certain elements and the remaining logs are under police protection at the revenue land itself.

Meanwhile, the Aruvappulam panchayat member, Mr Joseph George Vadakkedam, in a complaint to the Chief Minister's Public Grievance Cell has urged for a joint probe by the State Crime Branch and the Revenue Intelligence into the alleged racket which plundered the trees.

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Section  : Southern States
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