Sandalwood trees axed from private plantations, probe on

Several cases of unauthorised felling of sandalwood trees have been reported from private plantations in Jaisinghpur and Dadha Sibha areas in Dehra Gopipur and Jaisinghpur sub-division. The police did not rule out the possibility of the involvement of a gang, which has allegedly been involved in similar activities in Kangra, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts. Half a dozen sandalwood trees were axed in Jaisinghpur last year.

Residents of Dadha Sibha said they recently spotted a few persons carrying weapons on a private land. They had chopped one sandalwood tree outside a house at night, they added.

Yesterday, three sandalwood trees were axed from the private land of Sohan Lal and panchayat up-pardhan Parmeshwari Lal. When the locals tried to catch the miscreants, they fled away with few sandalwood logs, probably on four-wheelers, the locals said. They also left one half-cut tree on the spot.

Sohan Lal said the miscreants entered his land by cutting the barbed wires which he had erected to save the sandalwood trees. A team of forest officials headed by Block Officer Rajesh Kumar visited the spot today. Kumar said it was very serious matter as earlier no such incidents were earlier reported from this area. An investigation is in progress.

Similar incidents were reported last year in adjoining half-a-dozen villages in Jaisinghpur and Lambagaon where six sandalwood trees were axed from the private land of Rajesh Sugga. The Forest Department had taken cognisance of the incident as sandalwood has high export value, leading to illegal trade in the international market.

Sohan Lal and Parmeshwari Dass said, “We had planted sandalwood saplings as it gives significant returns. The wood is very expensive and used not only for medicinal uses but also for various industrial purposes.” As a prohibited item for export, sandalwood is included in the list of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Himachal Tribune