Teak trees uprooted by Gaja hoarded inside Central University

It is said that, recent Gaja cyclone uprooted several lakh of trees across the delta districts. Also, a few lakh trees like teakwood, sandalwood, mango and other horticulture trees that were planted and maintained by the forest department were also uprooted. As a part of augmenting green cover, the forest department had identified spots beneficial for tree plantation and planted saplings continuously and had been maintaining them.

Meanwhile, the cyclone had either damaged or uprooted these trees and the government has been initiating steps to remove these trees with the help of the TNPL, who would cut these trees and buy for a price as the timber could be used for making paper.

According to the sources, there were more than 40,000 trees which belonged to the forest department that were uprooted. In this backdrop, the forest department officials in Tiruvarur, got a tip off that the teak trees owned by the department which fell on the banks of the Vettaru river in Tiruneelakkudi has been hoarded inside the campus of the Central University of Tamil Nadu.

Following this, the forest officials led by the forest ranger Krishnamurthy, on Wednesday conducted a surprise inspection inside the CUTN campus. They were shocked to find the logs of teak trees hoarded in an area surrounded by bushes. The officials recovered the wooden logs and launched an enquiry.

The forest officials claim that the vehicle carrying the wooden logs could not have entered the premises without the knowledge of the security guards. Following which, they enquired the guards, who pointed fingers to an official from the university, whom the officials haven’t revealed and he had reportedly asked them to allow the vehicle.

However, further investigations are on. Meanwhile the CUTN administration has also launched an enquiry, sources added.