Stealing timber
TIMBER worth crores of rupees is being stolen from the UP forests. Trees are cut either without permission or with the connivance of those in authority. Timber worth Rs 30 lakh was seized in a single seizure recently, reflecting the magnitude of the problem, which is complicated further by terrorist activity and suspected mafia operations. The chief conservator of forests has asked the state government to hold a CBI investigation into the continuing cases of theft.