Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru(MD)

Mangaluru, Nov 15: 150 years old trees, cut down illegally were seized by the forest department led by the Mangaluru zone forest officer Clifford Lobo and team on Saturday November 15 at police lane, off Old Kent Road, Pandeshwar, Mangaluru.

The 150 years old trees were situated in the government owned land. The said land was allotted for the construction of houses including for the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Mangaluru. The Karnataka Police Housing Board had given the construction work to the contractor. The contractor without asking the permission from the forest department cut down two to three trees (exact number not known as the trees are cut) dumped under the pile of mud. The locals informed the forest department about the illegal work.

Trees cut being transported illegally

Immediately the forest department raided the area and handed over the bulldozer operator to the Pandeshwar police station and has filed a case against the contractor Clifford D'Souza and issued a notice to the Karnataka Police Housing Board.

Speaking to the media, Mangaluru zone forest officer Clifford Lobo said "They have cut down 150 years old trees without the permission of forest department. There are total seven trees remaining here. A case has been filed against the contractor Clifford D'Souza and we have the reasons to believe that some illegal business was going on as the cut trees were kept hidden."

It is learnt that the remaining wooden sticks have been dispatched to Hoige Bazar depot.