A 30-year-old indigenous tree, located close to Masiniamman temple in Masinagudi town in the Nilgiris, was chopped by miscreants, on Wednesday night.
The land, where the tree was located, falls under revenue area and is also notified under Tamil Nadu Private Forest Protection Act. Till Thursday afternoon, there was some confusion as to whether revenue or forest officials should take action.
According to Ooty Tahsildhar, though it is patta land, when a tree is cut illegally, it is the forest officials who have to take action initially under the forest act. Later, revenue officials will review and submit a report.
The land, where the tree was cut illegally in Masinagudi area, falls under Singara range of forests in the Nilgiris. "A complaint has been registered under Forest Act and an investigation is under way," said C Badrasamy, district forest officer. He further said, "Search operation is being carried out in tea shops and nearby cottages in the area".
According to the DFO, if they are unable to trace the culprits and recover the logs, compensation would be initiated by the concerned forest officer in charge in the area.
The land, where the tree was located, falls under revenue area and is also notified under Tamil Nadu Private Forest Protection Act. Till Thursday afternoon, there was some confusion as to whether revenue or forest officials should take action.
According to Ooty Tahsildhar, though it is patta land, when a tree is cut illegally, it is the forest officials who have to take action initially under the forest act. Later, revenue officials will review and submit a report.
The land, where the tree was cut illegally in Masinagudi area, falls under Singara range of forests in the Nilgiris. "A complaint has been registered under Forest Act and an investigation is under way," said C Badrasamy, district forest officer. He further said, "Search operation is being carried out in tea shops and nearby cottages in the area".
According to the DFO, if they are unable to trace the culprits and recover the logs, compensation would be initiated by the concerned forest officer in charge in the area.