Nagpur: Even as dust is yet to settle over large-scale tree felling in South Umred for railway line upgradation, one more incident of illicit felling has come to fore.
Foresters have seized a tractor-laden with teak timber poles and other wooden logs. The trees were felled in a reserve forest under Indapur beat by locals from Mandwa. In reserve forest, all activities are prohibited unless permitted.
The incident occurred on Wednesday but even after six days, the culprits have not been produced in the court. Sources said the plan was to free the tractor by registering offence for transporting illegal timber.
However, after TOI called assistant conservator forest (ACF) Narendra Chandewar, the panchnama was changed and after spot verification, an offence was registered under various sections for illicit felling and transportation. The ACF confirmed 19 logs were felled by one Ravi Manoji Rathod from Mandwa village.
South Umred RFO Vaishnavi Jhare said, “During spot verification, we saw 10 stumps of teak trees. Three persons have been booked and will be produced in the court on Tuesday. The tractor used to transport the material has also been seized. The accused, all locals, had felled the trees to construct a shed.”