The Forest department has resolved to intensify its checks on smuggling of teak wood and other illegal activities in association with the Police department.
The department has shared a list of over 460 persons, identified as habitual offenders, indulging in smuggling of valuable forest produce including teak.
Senior officials said the number of these habitual offenders could be much higher and the department is on the look out for identifying them.
Accordingly, it has intensified the general raids in different parts of the State with its own personnel while the assistance of the police is being sought wherever required.
Joint operations conducted by the two departments have led to arrests of not only the offenders but also three Forest department officials who were acting hand-in-glove with them.
Coordinated effort
“There could be one or two more arrests of the department officials involved in these activities in the coming days,” a senior Forest department official told The Hindu .
Furthering the initiative, the department has decided to intensify their searches for apprehending those indulging in these activities.
“The operations forthwith are likely to be on the lines of cordon and search operations of the police department for effectively checking these activities,” the official said.
The development comes in the light of instructions issued by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to officials concerned not to spare any one, including those with political affiliations, if they were found guilty of violating the norms and indulging in illegal activities. Senior officials said the Chief Minister’s directions had given fillip to the department to go ahead with its general raids to check these activities.
Accordingly, specific information is being obtained from the grass root levels, particularly in the Agency areas, about smuggling of forest produce and raids were being conducted.
“We have intensified general raids and promptly acting on the tip-offs that are being received since the last fortnight,” the senior official said.
