Forest dept. disputes claims of large-scale tree cutting in Malnad districts

Officers inspect forest areas after statement by Karnataka Biodiversity Board Chairman Anant Hegde Ashisara

The Forest Department officers of Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga districts have disputed Karnataka Biodiversity Board Chairman Anant Hegde Ashisara’s recent statement that illegal cutting of trees had gone up in forest areas during the lockdown. The officers have written to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests refuting the remarks of the board’s chairman, after spot visits. Mr. Ashisara, in a press release recently, had said that he had received complaints of large-scale tree cutting at Vagarerahalli in the Kadur range. He had stated forest vegetation in 480 acres had been lost. In Balur forest of Mudigere taluk, 472 trees had been cut and in Koppa division, more than 42 acres of forest had been lost. He also listed similar incidents in parts of Sorab, Hosanagar and Thirthahalli taluks in Shivamogga district.