Una (HP), March 19
About 1,000 Khair trees worth crores of rupees have allegedly been felled in the forest in Jhamber Panchayat in Una district, according to villagers.
The issue came to light on Wednesday when villagers went to the forest and discovered that a vast number of Khair trees had been cut.
The Khair tree (Senegalia catechu), also known as Acacia catechu, is valued for its heartwood, which produces ‘kattha’ used in paan. It is also used in traditional medicine for its astringent properties and provides durable timber, goat fodder, and edible gum.
Locals denounced the mass-scale cutting and wondered how could the forest department be completely unaware, especially after villagers alerting it about the mafia’s activities in the forest.
The forest, which borders a village settlement, was once dense and home to many Khair trees, but has been cleared of a swathe of its tree cover, alleged several villagers and accused the government officers of colluding with the mafia.
The villagers demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter.
Meanwhile, a joint team from the forest department and the police arrived at the scene late on Wednesday evening to assess the damage.
Una Divisional Forest Officer Sushil Rana said that if such a large number of Khair trees had been felled, it constitutes a grave and alarming matter, and promised action against the perpetrators.
PTI
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