PANJIM: The state government has proposed to consider illegal tree felling cases as theft and impose stringent penalties of compulsory imprisonment against the offenders henceforth. This was disclosed by the chief minister Manohar Parrikar, on behalf of the state forest ministry, during question hour in the Goa Assembly on Monday. The matter was raised by Opposition leader Pratapsingh Rane and Valpoi MLA Viishwajeet Rane. While the former raised the issue over forest guards not residing in the forest areas, which is facilitating illegal tree felling in the night, the latter alleged that there was connivance between the forest guards and the offenders. The Valpoi MLA strongly suggested that the forest guards should not be posted in those areas where they originally belong. Mr Parrikar accepting this suggestion said that the government was in the process of appointing around 450 forest guards from the forest areas and tribal belt who have knowledge of the area and would not hesitate to reside in the accommodations provided for them within the forest areas. He opined that presently the forest guards who may be coming from city areas would not be willing to stay in the forest areas after dark. Earlier forest minister Alina Saldanha told the House that the government is taking action against tree felling offenders as per the Indian Forest Act and that day and night patrolling is also being carried out to ensure that the same does not happen. She said, “We are taking steps to ensure that there is no increase in tree felling cases in government forests.” She also accepted a suggested from Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral on the need for a survey of the trees in the State forestry. In her reply to Pratapsingh Rane’s query Mrs Saldanha said that during the last three years as many as 112 cases had been registered against illegal cutting of trees.