Forest Department Raids Illegal Sawmills, Machinery Worth Lakhs Seized
Kakatpur: 21/10
Reporter: Tushar Dixit
For a long time, illegal sawmill operations have been continuing in various parts of the forest areas of Puri district. Despite repeated media reports about the destruction of forest resources, air pollution, and high electricity consumption caused by these activities, concrete action had been lacking. However, early this morning, under the leadership of Ashok Kumar Behera, Additional Forest Officer of Puri Forest Division, a joint raid was conducted with the help of officials from the Konark Balukhanda Forest Range, Gop, Brahmagiri, and Astaranga forest ranges, along with an independent team and Kakatpur police.
The team carried out a surprise raid on illegal sawmills operating near Moti Kalyan Mandap and Lataharan area in Kakatpur, as well as Balikul sawmill. Around 50 personnel were involved in this joint operation. According to sources, no valuable timber was found at the site. However, the forest department team seized all machinery used in the sawmill operations, worth lakhs of rupees, by dismantling it with gas cutters. They also disconnected the electricity supply to these illegal setups.
Further legal proceedings are underway. The forest department will soon file cases in court against the owners of the illegal sawmills. This was confirmed today by Ashok Kumar Behera, Additional Forest Officer of Puri district, who provided the information to the media.
