MLC Satyajeet Tambe seeks high-level probe into felling of thousands of trees in Shevgaon, Sangamner

MLA Satyajeet Tambe has turned aggressive over large-scale illegal tree felling in Shevgaon and Sangamner talukas of Ahilyanagar district. He has announced that he will raise the matter in the state Legislative Council.

Tambe will meet the chief minister and the minister of the department concerned and demand an immediate high-level inquiry into the whole matter. He says strict action must be taken against the guilty who sacrificed nature.

On one hand, announcements are being made in the state about saving the environment and tree plantation drives worth crores. On the other, green areas are being laid waste with the backing of the government machinery. This shocking reality has now come to light.

Thousands of old, dense trees were felled indiscriminately in Shevgaon taluka. After the matter came out, there is uproar across Ahilyanagar district. The administration has been alerted.

After Shevgaon, a similar case of illegal tree felling has also surfaced at Nimon village in Sangamner taluka. This shows that a network of a tree-felling mafia is spread across the district and that the administration had turned a blind eye to it.

A serious suspicion is being voiced that felling thousands of trees on such a scale would not be possible without the direct or indirect collusion of the Forest Department. The administration's double standard has been exposed.

There is also an obstruction to planting new trees. People who want to plant new trees to make up for the damage to nature, or under the MGNREGA scheme, do not get a no-objection certificate and approval from the Forest Department in time.

On one hand, hurdles are continually placed in the way of planting new trees, and on the other, old, dense trees nurtured for years are being cut down openly.

Tambe says this destruction of nature is continuing only because of the Forest Department's blessings and neglect. He says the officials concerned should go to the spot and investigate instead of sitting in air-conditioned offices.

According to him, approvals for new trees are not given, while those who cut standing trees get a free hand. There is great anger among people over this arbitrariness of the administration. Tambe has said he will not keep quiet until the whole matter is exposed and the guilty are acted against.

Tambe has taken a stand to launch a sharp struggle against this negligence and corrupt functioning of the administration. In the coming Legislative Council session, he will forcefully raise the issue of illegal tree felling in Shevgaon and Sangamner and corner the government.

He has demanded a fair, high-level inquiry. He wants strict punitive and administrative action against the tree-felling mafia as well as the responsible officials who shield them.