Tamil Nadu: Action is also needed against officials who failed to stop timber smuggling.
Tamil Nadu: Only four people, including a forest officer, were suspended in the Kodaikanal timber smuggling case, but it was emphasized that action should also be taken against senior officials who failed to prevent the smuggling.
There have been persistent allegations that whenever private companies are granted permission to cut trees in the forest area under the Kodaikanal Forest Division in Dindigul district, the trees are cut and smuggled outside the designated area. A few days ago, allegations surfaced that Forest Department officials themselves were involved in the irregularities in the Mannavanur Forest Division of the Kodaikanal Forest Division. Following this, a direct field inspection was conducted under the leadership of Mohammed Shabab, Forest Conservator of the Dindigul Zone. After the irregularities were confirmed, Mannavanur Forest Director Thiruniraichelvan, Foresters Amsaganapathy and Subhash, and Forest Guard Venkatesh were suspended. Furthermore, Forest Department officials stated that a departmental inquiry would be conducted. Forester Amsaganapathy was removed from his post on charges of timber smuggling while working in the Ottanchatram Range. It’s worth noting that this is the second time he’s been fired in his six years of service.
It also stated that action should be taken against forest checkpost staff, including assistant forest guards, district forest officers, assistant forest guards (flying squadrons), and others who failed to monitor timber smuggling. Form 1 permits are issued for trees cut and transported from forest areas through public auctions, based on which Form 3 permits are issued at forest checkposts. It is alleged that approximately 6 tons of trees were cut and smuggled in the Mannavanur Forest Range. An investigation should be conducted into everyone working in the Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary, from senior officials to lower-level employees. Forest activists insist that this will prevent the Forest Department from engaging in such irregularities in the future.
Arrests are necessary: Regarding this, N. Arunshankar, former secretary of the Palani Hills Conservation Committee, said:
The Forest Department is taking strict action against tribals and hill people who go to the forest to collect dry wood. Sometimes, arrests are even made. However, Forest Department officials who were so complicit in the timber smuggling that it affected the habitat of wild animals have been fired. While permission was granted to cut only 525 hectares of trees, the Forest Department itself was involved in the felling of 1,200 more. This has resulted in the smuggling of approximately 6,000 tons of trees. While only Sekai trees were permitted to be cut, many types of trees may have been cut and smuggled. This has not only resulted in revenue loss for the government but has also affected the habitat of wild animals. Why shouldn’t Forest Department officials involved in the irregularities be arrested under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972? He also said that action should be taken against the Assistant Conservator of Forests, District Forest Officer and Assistant Conservator of Forests who failed to keep an eye on the irregularities.
