Due to the inefficiency of the Forest Department, the timber mafia is cutting trees in the daytime. Despite knowing everything, the Forest Department rangers, foresters, guards and other employees are sitting at home and taking their salaries instead of showing their duty in remote areas. Today, such a picture can be seen in the areas of Gardenpadar, Karkaguda, Kenduguda, Baliaguda, Bamaring Chack, Raba, Taimal etc. of Nakamamudi Panchayat under Balimela Forest Reserve of Malkangiri District.
According to the complaint, the forests in this area were previously dense forests, but now due to the inefficiency of the Balimela Forest Department, they have now turned into a forest. The timber mafia is cutting trees in this area indiscriminately during the day. While this wood is being cut and transported to outside areas, the Forest Department is keeping a tight lid on everything. The trees are being cut so indiscriminately that the entire forest has turned into a forest. With the number of vehicles increasing day by day, if the forest is cleared by cutting trees, it is believed that it will be difficult for humans and animals to survive in the coming days. So, the question is now being raised in the locality whether the Forest Department Balimela Rangers, Foresters and Guards and other employees were sleeping soundly while so many trees were cut and cleared. In addition, the local residents have asked, who is asking the mafia to cut and clear the forest while the officials are busy earning lakhs of rupees in the name of various upcoming projects of the Forest Department. When we asked Balimela Ranger Lismita Kanhar about this, she took our words very lightly and said that the locals were clearing the forest for slash-and-burn farming. So now the question arises that if the forest is being cleared for slash-and-burn farming, where did all the awareness programs of the Forest Department go.
So, the money coming for the awareness programs is just in the account book. While the District Forest Department is conducting various awareness programs in every corner of the district, it has become a joke. When we asked the local forester Sameer Jena, he said that he was away on medical work and has now been transferred here and will send his guard to see. However, due to the Balimela Forest Department being paralyzed, today the timber mafia is cutting down trees from huge forests and clearing the forest. Therefore, the residents of the area have demanded that the District Forest Department take immediate action in this regard.
