Date:04/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/04/stories/2007100456540300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Tough steps afoot to end timber smuggling

Correspondent

Kakinada: The Forest Department has so far collected Rs. 24.52 lakhs towards compounding fee from those involved in timber smuggling as against the yearly target of Rs. 45.50 lakhs, according to C. Venugopal, assistant conservator of forests.

Last year, the department surpassed the target of Rs.30 lakhs by achieving Rs.41.80 lakhs towards compounding fee. He has said the department decided to initiate prosecution measures against the offenders in addition to levying of compounding fee.

The aim is to award stringent punishment for timber smuggling. During the 2007 drift wood collection season, 712 logs of wood of various types, including rosewood, teak, non-teak and yegisa measuring 20.786 cubic metres, was collected from the river Godavari up to August-end in Gokavaram range.

Special teams have been constituted to put an end to smuggling of timber.

Regarding the illegal quarrying of coloured stones, frequent raids are being conducted by special teams and till now 114 cases have been booked against the offenders and 950 grams of semi-precious stones have been seized, according to the official.

CPI (M) padayatra

The city unit of the CPI (M) will be launching the ten-day ‘padayatra’ in Kakinada city and suburban areas from October 4 to highlight the people’s problems, according to Ch Ajay Kumar, city unit secretary.

During the ‘padayatra’, the party will conduct a detailed survey on the people’s problems and prepare a list.