Deforestation poses threat to Kadpal forest

Narayankhed (Medak): At a time when the State government is undertaking ‘Telanganaku Haritha Haram’, a prestigious project to increase the green cover in the district, the large scale of deforestation under negligence of officials is posing a serious threat to the very existence of forest in Kadpal forest area. The forest is located 15 km away from Narayankhed mandal headquarters.

The Hans India and HMTV made random survey of the forest area by taking clues from locals who are getting vexed up with the failure of forest officials in putting a check to illegal smuggling of wood, including teak wood. The Hans India found several trees cut down in just one part of the forest area which lies between Sanjeevanraopet and Kadpal villages. Many of the trees cut down were young teak trees which are highly valuable in the market.

It may be recalled that in 2010, D Shivalal, a Forest Beat Officer was brutally set on fire and murdered by wood smugglers in this range. When The Hans India contacted K Ramesh, Forest Beat Officer, Kadpal Range and Ganesh, Forest Range Officer, Narayankhed Range, both of them said, they were not aware of any deforestation on large scale in that forest area.

According to Ganesh, local villagers sometimes take wood from the forest for construction of pandals for weddings and other functions. Taking stringent legal action on poor villagers, according to him, may not be morally the right thing to do. However, when The Hans India visited the forest, one villager was seen taking logs of wood tied to his bicycle, probably to use as firewood for domestic purpose.

Currently the Forest Department is not undertaking any plantation within Narayankhed forest range, but they are raising nurseries to supply plants as part of Haritha Haram. Ganesh assured us that he would look into the matter and take necessary action with respect to deforestation in that part of the forest.