2,184 trees illegally cut in Maoist-hit region since 2008

RAIPUR - Chhattisgarh’s Maoist-hit Bastar region has reported 2,184 cases of illegal felling of trees since 2008, a minister informed the state assembly Wednesday.

“We have registered a total of 2,184 cases of illegal felling of trees in Bastar since 2008, in which over Rs.265,477 was recovered from the accused as penalty,” Forest Minister Vikram Usendi informed the assembly in a written reply.

The tribal-dominated 40,000 sq km Bastar region that is made up of five districts - Kanker, Bastar, Narayanpur, Bijapur and Dantewada - has a majority of its areas under thick forest cover. It is known for a variety of high-value wood such as sal and sagon also called sagwan (teak).