PONDA: The Ponda Forest Team led by Deepak Bethkikar on Wednesday conducted a raid in the Kodar Forest and arrested five persons involved in “illegal” felling of 41 khair trees.
The Forest team also seized a vehicle.
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The cost of said wood is estimated to be around Rs 50,000, said forest officials.
The arrested are Akshay Gaude, Sandeep Malavankar, Jeetedra Malavankar, Laxman Paryekar and Mohan Malavankar.
The Forest team included Deepak Bethkikar, Ramakant Naik, Sachin Sawant, Devu Shetkar, Deepa Redkar, Rama Devgunkar, Akshay Gaus Ali Shaikh and Pradeep Gaonkar.
It is pertinent to note that there is demand for these trees in Maharashtra as they fetch good revenue and many people are involved in illegal felling of such trees and transport them to Maharashtra.
