Six loads of timber smuggled from CHR seized

Trees felled in Adimali, Ponmudi, Ayyappancovil, Mankuva, Udumbanchola, Rajakkad

Following inspections launched by the Vigilance squad of the Forest Department to identify illegally felled trees, officials of the Ayyappancoil range seized nearly six loads of timber from Vellilamkandam, near Kattappana, on Sunday evening which has been felled from the Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR) area. The timber seized was of Javawood (Chorakkali or Cholavenga) and Indian Copal (Vellapine). The search was held following a tip-off that timber was concealed at Vellilamkandam. The Forest Department rarely give permission to cut trees from the CHR which has tree species endemic to the Western Ghats. Permission is given only if a tree is naturally dead, diseased or poses a threat to human life or property. The status of the CHR is that of a reserved forest. Only an authorised official can give permission in writing for cutting a tree in the notified CHR area as per Section 4, 5 of the Preservation of Tree Act.