Sugandhagiri illegal tree felling: 3 more suspended
Wayanad: In a significant development regarding the illegal felling of trees in Sugandhagiri, Wayanad, three more employees, including South Wayanad Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Shajna Karim, have been suspended. Kalpetta Flying Squad Range Officer M Sajeevan and Grade Deputy Beerankutty are two others who have been suspended. Earlier on Wednesday, DFO and Kalpetta Range Forest Officer K Neethu were suspended.
The decision to suspend DFO Karim was due to negligence in overseeing the matter. This action follows an investigation by the Special Investigation Team of the Vigilance Wing of the Forest Department, which found serious lapses in preventing illegal tree felling. The Vigilance Wing asked the authorities concerned to seek an explanation from Karim. However, the Forest Chief suspended Karim without seeking an explanation.
The inquiry revealed that despite permission to cut only 20 trees, a staggering 107 trees were felled illegally. Moreover, it was revealed that the illegal activity went undetected for an extended period, with cases being registered belatedly and investigations conducted inadequately, resulting in the loss of 91 trees.
The investigation team highlighted the lack of vigilance on the part of the range officer, which impeded the timely detection of felled stumps and allowed criminals to continue timber smuggling unchecked. Consequently, the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests suspended K Neetu based on the team's findings.
This latest wave of suspensions adds to the five forest department officials who were previously suspended in connection with the case. Additionally, nine individuals from Wayanad and Kozhikode involved in the tree cutting have been arrested.
The trees, reserved for the forest department as part of the Cardamom project, were unlawfully cut from land allocated to tribal communities. Responding to allegations against forest officers, a special team was formed under the leadership of the Forest Conservator to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.