PONDA: Khair wood logs (catechu) worth around Rs 1.80 lakh were seized and one Dulo Kokare (36) from Sawanthawadi was arrested in a raid at Usgao on Friday. The raiding team also attached the vehicle that was brought for transporting the logs.
The raiding team consisted of Deputy Conservator of Forests Kuldeep Sharma, forest personnel Anand Jadav, Deepak Bethkikar and Prajoth Naik.
Since past many years, there has been a rampant felling and smuggling of catechu trees in Goa.
In connivance with locals, smugglers from Maharashtra fell catechu trees and transport them to that State. Some concerned locals say that due smuggling, catechu trees are on the verge of extinction.
According to a forest official, there is much demand for catechu tree in Maharashtra as catha, the ingredient for pan, panmasala and gutka, is extracted from this tree.
Forest Official Vishwas Chondakar said that many industrial units in Maharashtra are also engaged in extracting catha from the logs of Khair trees; beside, this tree also has medicinal properties.
Chondakar informed that since past couple of months the forest department conducted around ten raids at various parts of Goa and seized tree logs, vehicles and also arrested persons involved in transportation of Khair wood.
Recently, a raid was conducted at Banastari and later three raids were conducted at Kerim.
When asked whether there is any special protection to this tree, Chondakar said that though there is no special protection to this tree, but the Forest Department never allows illegal felling and transportation of forest trees.
