Tribals living near the Vatvad Dongar forest in Mokhada taluka of Thane distrct are protesting against tree-felling allegedly being done by the forest department. According to the Kashtakari Sanghatna, this one of the last vestiges of forest left in Mokhada since much of the hill side and several forests in the taluka are severly denuded. "Permission to fell the trees has been granted against the wishes of hundreds of tribals in surrounding villages who depend on this forest to meet their survival needs," said a Sanghatna spokesperson.