Strict action against wood smuggling in Telangana: KCR

Hyderabad, January 8: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao ordered officials to crack down on smuggling of wood from forests in the State, Instructions came at a high-level review meeting at Pragati Bhavan on Monday on protection and restoration of forests.

Also planting crores of saplings across the State, increasing green cover in and around the city and curbing smuggling of wood from forests are discussed. "Forests that provide the maximum green cover with trees growing naturally and if these disappear, programmes such as Telangana Haritha Haram will not serve any purpose.Smuggling of wood has become a profession for some people and such smugglers need to be identified and Forest Department officials shoul take action with the help of the police. Develop an action plan to curb this problem", the Chief Minister said.

He also said that cases should be filed under the PD Act on repeat offenders involved in wood smuggling and cases should be booked against anyone, irrespective of their political affiliation or standing if they are involved in such cases.