While the forest department in the state is busy organising Vanamahotsava programmes on a big scale, officials at the forest department at Kalay village allegedly went on tree cutting spree early Thursday morning. Sources told Herald that the three officials attached to the Kalay Range of the Forest Department entered the cashew plantation of some tribals at Kamamoll-Kalay and cut about 70 cashew trees planted by the tribals some years ago. "Ironically, some of the trees which were cut by the officials were allegedly distributed to the villagers by the Forest Department at a Vanamahotsava Programme in the village a few years ago,' said Local Panch Vinod Gaonkar. Denouncing the action as arbitrary, a visibly upset Mr Gaonkar has demanded an inquiry in the matter. The plantation allegedly cut by the forest officials belonged to Vitho Zangale, Kedo Zangale and Ragho Zangale, who have been residing in the village since the last several decades. Kalay Sarpanch Santosh Gaonkar also made his presence felt at the site and condemned the action of the forest department officials. "The officials have acted in a highly objectionable matter and this will anger more villagers in the days to come,' the sarpanch said. When contacted, Range Forest Officer Mr Korgaonkar agreed that officials have no right to cut any trees. "No person, whether an official or a layman, has any authority to cut trees without due permission,' Mr Korgaonkar said. The RFO, however, feigned ignorance of the tree-felling activities at Kalay on Thursday. "The department will conduct an inquiry in the matter and those officials found guilty in the act will be punished,' said Mr Korgaonkar. Herald inquiries revealed that the land occupied by the tribals allegedly belongs to the forest department. However, villagers claim that they have been occupying the property since the past several decades. "If forest department officials claim that our land belongs to them, why have they been silent all these years? Even then, the department has no right to cut the trees,' argued Mr. Raghu Zangale.