The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Erode News : CPI seeks action against tree felling

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Wednesday, Jun 22, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Erode

CPI seeks action against tree felling

Staff Reporter

Permission from Collector a must `Some persons fell trees after paying a meagre sum to tribals, and sold the timber'

ERODE: Steps should be taken to prevent felling of thousands of trees at Burgur Forest to be transported to plains, said the Taluk Secretary, of CPI, Bhavani, V.P. Gunasekaran.

Memorandum sent

In a memorandum to the Collector, D. Karthikeyan, on Tuesday, he said that the tribals in the area grew trees of expensive varieties on their patta lands. Such trees were also grow on lands of Forest and Revenue Departments.

If a person were to fell a tree, he had to seek permission from the Collector, who in turn would refer the same to Agriculture, Forest and Revenue Departments and order inspection of the tree.

They would have to certify that felling that particular tree would not affect the environment.

But, a few affluent people cut down and smuggled trees every day. He wondered how the trees were smuggled past the tight security at forest check posts.

Special group

He also complained that some persons fell trees after paying a meagre sum to the tribals and sold the timber at higher prices.

He wanted the Collector to instruct forest officials to prevent such large-scale felling of trees and check if permission was given to cut the trees.

A special vigilance group should be formed to prevent smuggling, Mr. Gunasekaran said.

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