Some update on the news...

MoEF official in city to probe teakgate
Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN, Jan 20, 2011, 01.00am IST

NAGPUR: Even as the cold war continues between the wildlife wing and Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) over communication gap about Mansinghdeo Wildlife Sanctuary notification, a senior official from Union Ministry for Environment and Forests (MoEF) is reaching city on Thursday to investigate large-scale teak and bamboo felling in the sanctuary.

Highly placed sources said deputy conservator of forests (DyCF) Praveen Wasudeo in environment minister Jairam Ramesh's office has been asked to look into the matter. On Thursday morning, Wasudeo will probe the lapses that led to massive felling in Mansinghdeo. He will also hold talks with the territorial, wildlife wing and FDCM officials. On Friday, he will pay a visit to the Mansinghdeo Sanctuary and areas of Nagpur Forest Division where felling took place.

Based on a TOI report, Ramesh ordered a probe into the serious violation of forest laws and sought a report. The FDCM and Nagpur Forest Division have already submitted their reports. However, as chief wildlife warden D C Pant was not available for comments, it could not be known whether the reports have been forwarded to the environment ministry or not.

Manager of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) Prafulla Bhamburkar, who was instrumental in pursuing the sanctuary proposal for nearly two decades, has hailed the MoEF move. He demanded action as per the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Wildlife Trust of India chairman MK Ranjitsinh also lodged a complaint with Ramesh and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) following which the probe has been ordered.

On January 11, TOI had reported about large-scale tree felling and bamboo extraction across the Mansinghdeo Sanctuary in Block A and B compartments owned by the FDCM, a wholly-owned company of the state government. The huge ecological damage to the sanctuary was caused by FDCM despite the government notifying it as sanctuary on November 2, 2010. The FDCM officials took advantage of absence of communication from the PCCF (wildlife) about sanctuary's notification.

The FDCM officials say it was not felling but thinning under silviculture operations approved by MoEF's Bhopal office.

Link - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/7322798.cms