Forest staff intensify checks

Anantapur: On the directions of DFO A Chandrasekhar, forest personnel have intensified vehicle checks on Chennai-Bengaluru corridor in the district to prevent smuggling of red sanders logs and break nexus between smugglers in districts. Raids were also conducted on vehicles and warehouses at the field level.

In the recent raids, red sanders logs and vehicles were also seized. The forest personnel also stepped up vigilance on fringe villages bordering Kadapa and Kurnool and inquired into the whereabouts and activities of those listed as smugglers. Vigilance was stepped up in 270 fringe villages and an awareness on the consequences of smuggling was created by forest staff.

The intelligence and informer network also being strengthened by awarding rewards to the informers on smuggler movements and activities and boosting coordination between the Forest department, police and revenue personnel by conducting Naka Bandi and checking all vehicles on the national highways.

Speaking to The Hans India, District Forest Officer A Chandrasekhar said that coordinated actions are yielding positive results. in the process, red sanders logs passing through the district clandestinely had been raided and seized, he stated. The results have boosted the morale of the field personnel and officers, he stated and added that they succeeded in neutralising smuggling activity to some extent.