Timber smuggling goes unabated in Nizamabad

Nizamabad: While the government is trying hard to increase forest coverage by launching Haritha Haram programme across the State by involving every person, some people are felling trees in the forest and smuggling them to other places.

Timber smuggling is going on unabated on the outskirts of Kottur suburbs. Unscrupulous people are felling teak trees on Kottur suburbs, Ummeda, Chowdamma Kondur of Nandipet mandal.

Due to the negligence of forest officials, the forest coverage is declining here.

Not only smugglers, villagers also cut trees for domestic purposes like for cooking food. Lot of trees were cut down in Chowdamma Kondur village.

Normally the wood will be smuggled by boat by crossing River Godavari. Since the river dried up, the smugglers are using tractors.

It was alleged that a timber smuggler is constructing the bridge across the river. There were allegations that the timber smuggling is going on unabated with the help of some forest staff.

The government, which is keen on increasing green cover, should at least now act immediately and nab the wood smugglers.