Forest dept enhances vigil in Nashik & Sambhajinagar amid LPG supply delay

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR/ NASHIK: The forest department has stepped up vigilance to prevent possible tree cutting for fuel amid delays in LPG refill cylinder supply.Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Suvarna Mane said legal action will be taken against those involved in illegal tree cutting within reserved forest areas.

"People must note that an increased number of teams from the forest department get deployed during the summer season to keep a check on forest fires. Any damage to flora within the forest areas will not be punished," she said.Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district has around 79,000 hectares of reserved forest area, excluding wildlife sanctuaries.Authorities said action will be taken under the Maharashtra Felling of Trees (Regulation) Act, 1964 and the Maharashtra Forest Rules, 2014 against illegal tree cutting.

The Forest department has appealed to citizens to report incidents of illegal tree cutting on the toll-free helpline number 1926.Officials from the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC) have also warned citizens against cutting or damaging trees without permission. "Under the Maharashtra Tree Protection Act, illegal tree cutting is a punishable offence, with penalties that can go up to Rs 1 lakh.

Stern action will be taken against those engaging in tree cutting," a senior official from the CSMC's garden department said.Chief conservator of Forests in Nashik, G Mallikarjuna, said, "So far we do not have any inputs related to the thefts of firewood from the forest area owing to the ongoing LPG issue. Our patrolling is continuous in the forest areas and it is even more considering that this is the fire season. Our teams are deployed in the forests on a larger scale to prevent fire incidents in the backdrop of the summer season." Other officials said action will also be taken against those found involved in the theft of wood from forest areas.