Mumbai: Maharashtra Government is planning
to make illegal cutting of trees as a non-bailable offence by
booking the culprits under organised crime acts.
Worried about dwindling forests in the state, Forest
Minister Patangrao Kadam today directed the officials to check
if people repeatedly cutting trees could be booked under
Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOCA) or subjected to
externment, an official from Forest Department said.
Kadam also asked the officials to review work of
district level committees set up to keep watch on illegal
cutting of trees.
Meanwhile, the Centre has given an in-principle
approval to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve project in western
Maharashtra. It would be the forth such project in the state
and would come up on 714 sq km area of Chandoli National Park
near Sangli.
-PTI
