Daltonganj: Officials on Tuesday seized two autorickshaws loaded with illegal firewood in Kundri range under Medininagar forest division in Palamu district. The drivers fled leaving behind the vehicles.DFO Satyam Kumar said, “A complaint has been lodged with the court of the chief judicial magistrate, Daltonganj, in respect of the seizure of firewood loaded in two autorickshaws.”Sources said that amid the LPG shortage, the demand for firewood in Palamu has increased. Forest officials said small, dry and green trees are being cut and chopped for firewood. They said efforts are underway to find out from which forest beat the timber was collected or whether it came from non-forest land.“A raiyyat (landowner) is free to fell trees on his land, but any shifting of the timber requires a valid transit permit,” the DFO said. He said transportation or shipment of timber without a permit is a major offense under the Forest Act.In-charge forester Souhana Saurav Toppo said, “We have found the two persons who were instrumental in the illegal transportation of firewood. They will be caught soon.”
