Nangal, Dec 20: The alleged illegal felling of khair trees in the eco-sensitive zone near the Nangal wildlife sanctuary has raised alarm among villagers and environmental groups in Ropar district’s Shivalik foothills.
According to sources, several khair trees were cut on Thursday evening from notified forest land abutting the sanctuary, where restrictions are imposed to protect wildlife and fragile ecosystems. Locals claimed that the operation was carried out by politically influential individuals, resulting in a lack of follow-up action after the matter came to light.
Villagers said lower-level forest staff reached the location after receiving information and stopped further cutting. However, they alleged that the department failed to register a case under relevant forest and wildlife laws.
Confirming the incident, DFO Ropar Kanwardeep Singh said five felled khair trees had been seized by the department. “Those who cut the trees are claiming the land belongs to them. A demarcation exercise has been ordered to determine whether the area is forest land or private property. Action will be taken accordingly,” he said.
DFO (Wildlife) Monika Yadav could not be reached for comment despite repeated phone calls and messages.
Residents of the area alleged that illegal felling of khair trees peaks during the winter months due to increased demand for khair wood. They said smugglers often target remote forest patches in the Shivaliks at night.
Khair (Acacia catechu), a commercially valuable species used for extracting kattha, has long been a target of illegal logging in the region. Experts cautioned that its loss weakens forest cover and destabilises the Shivalik ecology, increasing the risk of erosion and landslides. The area surrounding the Nangal wildlife sanctuary also functions as a vital wildlife corridor, making repeated violations of eco-sensitive zone norms particularly damaging.
Locals have called for a detailed investigation and strict action against those involved.
