The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has requested an action report on the illegal logging of century-old rosewood trees on income land allocated to farmers for cultivation in the Wayanad Forest District in Kerala.

The southern chamber of the tribunal, made up of judge K. Ramakrishnan and expert member K. Satyagopal, took suo motu note of media reports claiming that the tax and forestry services had failed to monitor illegal logging. in the village of South Muttil in Wayanad. A similar loss of protected trees has also been reported in other districts, he said.

The Chamber stated that the matter required the intervention of the Tribunal as valuable trees were protected under the Kerala Tree Preservation Act, 1986. In addition to attracting the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act , 1980, the reported logging of trees also fell under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, as the cutting of a large number of trees in the forest area would have an impact on the forest ecology. and wildlife, he said.

The Senior Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Forestry Department, Thiruvananthapuram and respective district collectors are to submit their independent reports on allegations of illegal logging in violation of the rules.

They must assess the extent of the damage caused to the environment as a result of the massive felling of protected trees. Government officials should explain the prosecution of those involved in the illegal act.

Independent reports should mention the losses caused to the government as a result of tree cutting by applying the principles of net present value (NPV) as observed by the Supreme Court in TN Godavarman Thirumulpad v Union of India and Others. It can also be reported if trees have been cut under the guise of the disputed government order.

The government must explain the nature of the violations committed by those responsible for illegal logging. Respondents must submit their reports by August 31st.