Forest dept forms panel to probe timber transportation

Margao: The forest department has constituted a committee to look into the allegations of illegal transportation of timber in Canacona.
Deputy conservator of forest (DCF), Margao, Prem Kumar on Tuesday assured a delegation of Congress functionaries that called on him over the issue of alleged illegal timer transportation that prompt action will be taken against the perpetrators of the offence if any illegality is detected.
Kumar, however, said that one lot of timber was officially auctioned by the forest department and transit passes were issued by the range forest officer (RFO) for the lot.
However, he said that the department was probing into the allegation of unaccounted timber being transported illegally. He also urged the public to come forth with any inputs they may be having about illegal timber transportation.
Chodankar had accused Goa legislative assembly speaker Ramesh Tawadkar of being involved in the illegal timber transportation and accused the forest department of turning a blind eye to the illegality.
Tawadkar has since refuted the allegations. Producing documents to show that transportation of timber in question was legal, Tawadkar said the wood was required for the houses which were being built for the homeless through his personal initiative.