Three senior scientists working in ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation near Ooty have been transferred in connection with the felling of 370 trees from the campus.
The Nilgiris: Three senior scientists have been transferred in connection with the felling of 370 trees at ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation in Thettukal near Ooty for illegal felling of trees.
ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation is functioning at Thettukal near Ooty in the Nilgiris district. The centre has been functioning since 1955 on leased forest department lands of about 234 acres.
There are thousands of exotic varieties of trees in the campus including hundreds of eucalyptus trees.
As many as 370 trees within the research centre premises were cut down and sold a few months ago in a clandestine manner.
A senior scientist at the Research Centre, recently lodged a complaint with the Nilgiris District forest officer and Superintendent of police on the illegal felling of trees the total cost of which is put at Rs.49 lakh.
Moreover, along with the trees that fell down during the rainy season, the trees which were in good condition were cut down and sold without proper permission, claiming that they were dangerous trees.
Subsequently, the police investigation also revealed the involvement of forest department officials of Nilgiris South forest range, and some officials of the Soil and Water Resources Research Centre and a private contractor.
Two weeks ago, Police arrested Nilgiris South Forest Ranger Naveen, Forest Officer Sasidharan, Forest Guard Babu, Anti-Poaching Guard Devendran and a temporary employee of the research centre Nagaraj.
A separate inquiry into the incident is underway at the head office of the institute at Dehradun.
In the meanwhile, Senior scientist Kannan, who is currently heading the Ooty centre, has been transferred to Dehradun headquarters, scientist Manivannan to Assam and another scientist Raja to Odisha.
ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation is functioning at Thettukal near Ooty in the Nilgiris district. The centre has been functioning since 1955 on leased forest department lands of about 234 acres.
There are thousands of exotic varieties of trees in the campus including hundreds of eucalyptus trees.
As many as 370 trees within the research centre premises were cut down and sold a few months ago in a clandestine manner.
A senior scientist at the Research Centre, recently lodged a complaint with the Nilgiris District forest officer and Superintendent of police on the illegal felling of trees the total cost of which is put at Rs.49 lakh.
Moreover, along with the trees that fell down during the rainy season, the trees which were in good condition were cut down and sold without proper permission, claiming that they were dangerous trees.
Subsequently, the police investigation also revealed the involvement of forest department officials of Nilgiris South forest range, and some officials of the Soil and Water Resources Research Centre and a private contractor.
Two weeks ago, Police arrested Nilgiris South Forest Ranger Naveen, Forest Officer Sasidharan, Forest Guard Babu, Anti-Poaching Guard Devendran and a temporary employee of the research centre Nagaraj.
A separate inquiry into the incident is underway at the head office of the institute at Dehradun.
In the meanwhile, Senior scientist Kannan, who is currently heading the Ooty centre, has been transferred to Dehradun headquarters, scientist Manivannan to Assam and another scientist Raja to Odisha.