FIR lodged over felling of trees | Patna News
Bettiah: The forest department on Saturday lodged an FIR against 20 named and unidentified people for allegedly felling dozens of green trees during cleaning work of the Don Canal near Bhawal village in Ramnagar block of West Champaran.Ramnagar ranger Vijay Prasad said cleaning work was underway on the canal passing through Bhawal village when villagers reported the cutting of a large number of trees along the canal. The information was passed on to Pankaj Kumar, forest division officer of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bettiah, following which a forest department team rushed to the spot.“On seeing the forest officials’ vehicle, the tree cutters fled,” the ranger said. He added that locals were questioned and some individuals were identified during the inquiry. Based on an application submitted by forest officer Jaleshwar Mahato, an FIR was registered against 20 named and unidentified persons.“All of them will face action for damaging forest resources and trees,” Prasad said.The ranger further said tiger reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are meant to protect tigers and other wildlife, and cutting trees in such areas amounts to destruction of wildlife habitat, which is a serious offence.Appealing to the people, he said the govt is promoting plantation under the Jal Jeevan Hariyali Mission and people should cooperate by protecting trees instead of destroying them.
