Forest officials aiding timber mafia

NGO informs Sheila Dikshit about felling of two hundred trees in outer Delhi in the past few months

The timber mafia is not bothered about global warming; neither are the Capital's forest officials. A Delhi-based NGO 'Unity For Development' has approached Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit and Environment Secretary Dharmender Kumar with the news that more than two hundred trees have been cut down in the past few months from a huge forest land in outer Delhi.


Axe effect: According to the NGO, the timber smugglers have also cut
down some rare species of trees here. Pic/mid day

The organisation seeks action against forest officials who are allegedly hand-in-glove with the timber mafia. MiD DAY has a copy of the complaint.

Forest lands in Bawana and Mungeshpur-Tikrikalan are being targeted by smugglers. The complaint says that forest officials demand bribes from the persons who cut down the trees.

"The forest land of Bawana is spread over twenty five acres. Barbed wire has also been used to protect the area. Around ten forest guards are always on duty. But despite all this, dozens of trees were cut down by unknown persons last Monday," read the complaint of the NGO. According to them, when representatives of the NGO probed the guards on duty about the tree felling, they were asked to leave.

The culprits have also cut down some rare species of trees. They then sell off the timber in local markets. According to experts, the wood is generally used in making window panes.

Environment Secretary Dharmender Kumar has assured the NGO officials of stern action if any forest officials are found guilty. He has also reportedly asked the forest department of outer Delhi area to submit a report on the matter within a week.u00a0