Combing operation in Siruvani hills

In an effort to keep poachers, plunderers of forest wealth and ganja cultivators at bay, the Coimbatore District Forest Department officials numbering nearly 30 led by District Forest Officer V. Thirunavukkarasu on Saturday and Sunday conducted a combing operation in Siruvani hills.

Talking to The Hindu , Mr.Thirunvaukkarasu said that it was a routine exercise of combing to step up vigil in hostile terrain, in a bid to prevent anti-social elements from taking advantage of the terrain.

The team led by Mr.Thirunavukkarasu had two range-officers, foresters, guards and a Forest biologist.

The team that began at dawn reached the district's highest Kunjira hills at dusk. The kunjira hills peak is at a height of 1,817 m - the highest altitude in the Coimbatore forests. The trek also helped in border verification as Tamil Nadu shares borders with Kerala at this point, Mr.Thirunavukkarasu said.

The officials with the help of the biologist were able to record the richness of various types of forests such as dry deciduous, semi-ever green, ever green and grass lands.

No ganja found

The teams that went on combing operation did not come across any ganja cultivation or plunderers of forest wealth. Officials in various ranges have been asked to conduct similar operations in a bid to step up vigil in deep forest areas, Mr.Thirunavukkarasu said.