Illegal timber smuggling rampant in Bhupalpally

Largescale tree felling is reported on Malhar mandal of Jayashankar Bhupalpally district causing extreme concern to environmentalists

Hyderabad: Largescale tree felling is reported on Malhar mandal of Jayashankar Bhupalpally district causing extreme concern to environmentalists.

Reports said dozens of trees between Peeda Thoondla and Koyyur villages were found to be cut by unidentified timber smugglers. It is suspected that the trees are cut during the nights and transported immediately. Unbridled tree felling is also reported from other mandals in the district also.

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Local people who regularly use the routes lament that huge trees have been axed and the rural roads have been devoid of shade causing hardship to travellers. Officials, however, maintain that no permission was granted for cutting trees.

It is also observed that some farmers and timber smugglers are resorting to the old modus operandi of making a deep circular gashes on the trunks of trees, which leads to drying up of the tree.

Dozens of trees in several mandals could be seen with the bark being removed on the trunks prompting an NGO, the Orugallu Wildlife Society (OWLS) lodge a complaing with the forest officials in the district.

The society in its complaint alleged that some farmers were also resorting to cutting down trees as they were believed to be hampering the agricultural operations. The society urged the authorities to take action against the violators under the WALTA Act.

The society expressed concern over the issue in the wake of the upcoming summer season as lack of tree cover is bound to affect people negatively. A society member told Telangana Today that such activities lead to environmental degradation and could harm future generations. He said that the organisation was conducting environment awareness programmes in schools and also making posters on the same.