Warangal Aug. 21: Rampant felling of trees in the name of podu cultivation is threatening the Eturnagaram forests. Smugglers have been cutting down trees in large numbers and have been transporting them illegally to neighbouring Chhattisgarh. Tree felling is highly prevalent in the north and south forest divisions of the district. Forest areas in Eturnagaram, Pasra, Gudur, Kothaguda, Narsampet, and Bhupalpally ranges have been denuded because of this. In 2005, trees in more than 1,500 hectares of forest land were felled in Pasra and Tadwai sectors. It created much outrage since members of the Vana Samrakshana Samitis (the forest protection committees) too took part in the felling of trees. This time, trees are being chopped in the name of podu cultivation. Forest officials are aware of tree felling and have also been conducting inspections and investigations. To prevent the destruction of forest wealth, they have also started booking non-bailable cases against those who cut down trees for podu cultivation or illegal occupation. Around 3,500 square km of the 12, 486 square km in the district comprises of forests. The thick Eturnagaram forests separate the district from the Chattisgarh state. Official figures state that the forest cover constitutes 28.5 per cent of the total area of the district. However, there are fears that it may have come down to 20 per cent now. The Godavari Lake, which flows between the Chhattisgarh and Warangal has been a major impediment to the illegal trade of the smugglers. But they have found out innovative ways to smuggle out expensive teakwood and other types of logs through the river. However, environmentalists fear that the proposed gigantic bridge across the Godavari River would make it easier for the smugglers to conduct their trade. Though the bridge is meant to enable security agencies to tackle Maoists who often take refuge in the forests, it comes at a huge price. However, the construction of this bridge would accelerate the destruction of the Eturnagaram forests, which houses a rich variety of wildlife including the tiger. Earlier too, the laying of the pipelines of the Devadula lift irrigation project through the forest had resulted in the destruction of much forest wealth.