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Under fire

TREE-felling has evolved into a big business involving mafia, guns and lots of money, says a parliamentary report released on March 13. Rising population, mining, i,ndustrialisation, construction of highways and other development activities have left only 20 per cent of the.Indian land mass under green cover, according to the 30th report of the parliamentary standing committee on science and technology, environment and forests.

In the north-east, 6,35,oo ha of forest cover has been lost. The report has pointed out the involvement of forest officials in aiding the timber mafia. Encroachments have also been responsible for deforestation. No regular evaluation is done regarding loss of forests due to fires and treefelling. The involvement of tribals and local people in forest management has been appreciated and encouraged in the report.

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