Farmers' body alleges seized timber vanished after felling of thousands of trees in Shevgaon

A case of large-scale felling of thousands of trees in Shevgaon taluka of Ahilyanagar district had come to light, causing alarm across the district. The Forest Department had taken action immediately after the matter was reported. It has now emerged that the action was weak and merely for show.

Most shocking is the allegation that the large stock of timber seized in the action was quietly moved from the spot and made to disappear.

The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana has made serious allegations in the matter. The organisation says local Forest Department officials and the owners of sawmills (timber depots) are fully "managed". According to the organisation, illegal tree felling is damaging the environment and posing a grave threat to people's lives and health, while Forest Department officials are shielding offenders in exchange for bribes.

The organisation says that if government officers themselves side with smugglers and stage token action, it is a direct assault on nature and on public lives. It has therefore demanded that a case of culpable homicide be registered against the officials responsible and that they be suspended from service immediately. The organisation put forward the demand in very strong terms.

The Sanghatana has now announced an agitation against what it called the corrupt and arbitrary working of the Forest Department. It wants a high-level inquiry into the whole matter and stringent punitive action against the ringleaders of the nexus between the timber mafia and officials. Its leader Dattatray Phunde said a memorandum on this demand will be submitted directly at the District Collector's office tomorrow.

Questions are now being raised over how the timber seized by the Forest Department was stolen and who enabled it. There is apprehension that a major financial scam may lie behind it. It also remains to be seen what firm stand the District Collector takes, whether action is taken against the guilty officials, and whether the roots of the illegal trade in Shevgaon are exposed.

Farmers and ordinary citizens have turned aggressive against a system that harms the environment and protects corrupt officials. A mood of heavy tension and anger is visible in Shevgaon taluka.