R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Mar 12: It has come to light that cutting of high value trees has been going on unhindered within the limits of Western Ghats sanctuary. There have been widespread allegations that the forest department is hand in glove with the timber mafia in their illegal activities. Besides damaging ecology and environment, this activity has also been causing loss to the tune of crores of rupees to the exchequer.

Because this forest is marked as sanctuary, no strangers are allowed access inside. Therefore, it is impossible for the mafia to cut down trees and transport them elsewhere by using vehicles without the connivance of forest department officials. A look into this forests lays bare the dark reality of logs of trees lying on the ground and blunted tree stumps dotting the forest area.

Trees are being felled unscrupulously in and around villages like Kabbinale, Nadpalu, Andaru, Shirlalu, Hermunde, Edu, Mala, Nooralbettu and other villages that are located at the foot of the Western Ghats. The logs are being transported through vehicles during the night. The sanctuary houses some of the biggest and finest trees. In spite of the fact that movement of vehicles poses a problem in thick forest, the mafia engaged in felling the trees, has been converting them into logs and transporting them clandestinely with the tacit backing of some forest department staff, as per the assessment of the people here. The top brass in the department need to take strict action against such employees.

This forest region is the wealth of the state and the country. It is the duty of forest department to evince interest in protecting this wealth. But it does not seem to be having any interest in doing its duty. The department, which should have at least acted against the culprits on the basis of number of trees felled and logs lined up inside the forests, is showing inertia in punishing the culprits.

The department has neglected its duty of developing areas where the aborigines live inside the forests under Forest Rights Act by providing basic facilities. The department, which blocks initiatives like laying of roads, streets lights, and power connection in the name of damaging the forest, has remained silent spectator in the matter of transportation of timber. This silence and neglect is serious, and the conduct of employees is highly questionable.

Waning of naxal activity a boon?: Western Ghats have stopped getting reverberated with the sound of gunshots. The fact that the naxals who were fighting for the aborigines are joining the mainstream has come as blessing in disguise for the timber mafia. Because, during the period naxals were active, Anti Naxal Force used to comb the forests, as a result of which the forest wealth got protected. Now the people hired by the mafia move around forests fearlessly and plunder forest wealth by stealing trees. Conscious citizens living in the area have earnestly requested the government to crush the timber mafia with iron hand.

Department instills fear: As soon as the fact that hundreds of trees are being cut down and transported came to the notice of the media, some forest department staff who developed cold feet, are working to create fear psychosis among the villagers, it is learnt. It is said that they have warned the villagers that the villagers will not be spared if the department acts against the erring employees. The district administration has to take note of this grave situation and act fast.

Rehabilitation a blessing?: Several families which lived inside these forests since the time of their forefathers have recently gone out of the forest voluntarily and got rehabilitated by the government. The trees, plants and agricultural produce created by these people could have been retained so that they could have benefitted wild animals and birds by providing food. But without any justification, these trees and plants were destroyed by the department which cut these things down. One wants to know whether the department is justified in destroying these things.

At the same time, it has come to the notice of the media that Praveen, who lives in Kudremukh sanctuary, had opted for getting rehabilitated. But the department has been overlooking his request. It is learnt that the department has raked up certain issues with which the forest department is not concerned. Frustrated by this behaviour, Praveen had attracted the attention of the people to his plight by sitting on hunger strike in front of the office of Kudremukh wildlife division in the town.

Official transferred

Following allegations of irregularities in rehabilitation, the state government has transferred Karkala wildlife DF Maria Christaraj.

Praveen Gowda, son of Eedu Kanyalu Mahabala Gowda is one of the first rehabilitation applicants who exposed the case and raised his voice against the injustice. He had sat on protest putting forward his justifiable demand all by himself in front of the office of wildlife DF on February 7.

"Land belonging to the family was divided among six people. Four among them were willing to hand over the land to the government and their files were approved. However, the officials refused to approve my file, giving several reasons," alleged Praveen Gowda.

"I had actively canvassed for Congress during elections. I had submitted an application directly without getting involved with the middlemen. Therefore, the officials were harassing me from the last six months," says Praveen.

The police station circle inspector who came to the spot reportedly told Praveen that he could not sit in protest in front of the office and warned of arrest if he did not move.

Former MLA H Gopal Bhandary visited the spot and persuaded Praveen to withdraw protest. He also assured that compensation would be paid after speaking to the forest minister soon.

The former MLA said that the issue of middlemen taking commission on the pretext of providing justice to Malekudiya community was out in the open. He also assured that the matter would be brought to the notice of the minister of forest. Praveen later withdrew his protests after receiving assurance from the former MLA.

But the matter did not end there. Praveen who was on his way to his grandmother's house in the area, was waylaid by the officials of wildlife department and allegedly harassed. Expressing his helpless situation, Praveen himself had written on the wall of his grandmother's house that if anything were to happen to him, the officials of the forest department would be solely responsible.

Christaraj transferred to Virajpet

The state government took serious note of the case and transferred Karkala wildlife department DF Maria Christaraj to Virajpet in Kodagu. Ganesh Bhat has been assigned his position in Karkala.