Govt takes steps to prevent illegal timber transportation

Hyderabad, Sep 6: Forest Minister S Vijayarama Raju on Saturday, Sep 6 said the State Government had taken steps to prevent the illegal transportation of timber and fuel wood from the agency area of the East Godavari district.

Replying to K L Durga Prasad (Cong) during the Question Hour in the Council, the Minister admitted that sporadic incidents of timber smuggling from agency areas of East Godavari District had come to the notice of the Government. Action was taken in all cases under the provisions of A P Forces Act, 1967, and the rules made thereunder, he added.

In order to prevent the illegal transportation of timber and fuel wood from the agency areas and also to comply with the AP Forest Produce Transit Rules 1970, permanent checkposts had been setup at Rampachodavaram, Foulkspeta, Kothappli, Papampeta, Yelswaram and Gokavaram for keeping round the clock vigil.

Apart from this, mobile teams and task force teams were constituted for patrolling the vulnerable locations and in other strategic routes.

The member alleged that the smugglers were regularly smuggling teakwood with the connivance of the officials and also with the staff at the checkpost and strict measures should be taken to stop the illegal transportation of timber to protect the forests.

UNI