Huge teak trees, numbering 273, were illegally sold in the territorial limits of the Chalakudy forest division, according to a preliminary investigation carried out by the Divisional Forest Officer of Flying Squad (Ernakulam). The trees, some over 60 years old, were felled along an 18-km stretch from Vellikulangara Junction to Vettilapala bridge in the division. Trees on private holdings and assigned land were felled and sold cheaply, as per the report.

The trees that were felled for reportedly clearing the pathway for the State hill highway were sold to a Thiruvananthapuram-based wood industries firm for ₹8.52 lakh against its assessed value of ₹41.55 lakh, fixed by the Assistant Conservator of Forest (Social Forestry) Thrissur. The real value of the trees could be even higher and ascertained only after a detailed assessment. The land along the road stretch was acquired by the Kerala Road Fund Board for the highway project, according to sources.

Transport pass issued

The Forest Range Officer (Pariyaram) also issued a No Objection Certificate for the firm to transport the felled trees under the provisions of the Kerala Promotion of Tree Growth in Non-Forest Areas Act 2005, according to the report. However, the Act specifies that a transport pass shall be issued to transport only those trees which are legally felled by the owner of the holding on which they are located. The circumstances under which the officials permitted the timber firm that purchased the trees to axe and transport them should be probed, the report suggested.

No files on the holdings acquired for the road project — their survey numbers and status — and the details of the trees sold and to be axed were maintained at the Forest range office, Pariyaram, or the Social Forestry, Thrissur Division. The department has approached the revenue officials concerned to obtain the relevant details, sources said. The report also pointed out that the firm, which purchased the trees, has also started cutting trees from the holdings.

On assigned land

No trees located on assigned land shall be illegally cut down, sold and transported, as their ownership is vested with the State government, pointed out another report by the Additional Principal Chief Forest Conservator (Vigilance and Forest Intelligence). In the event of cutting down such trees, they shall be transported to the timber depot of the department and sold outright. The revenue generated from such sales shall be credited to the government account, said the report.

Recovery of amount

The report has also proposed that steps for recovering the lost amount shall be initiated. It shall also be ensured that trees are not illegally felled from forest or revenue land, the report directed.

Incidentally, the next stretches of the proposed highway pass through a reserve forest area, and the department needs to obtain permission from the Union Ministry to initiate the construction, sources said.