THREE members of the Tamil Nadu forest department were suspended for mass felling of trees, including teak, in the Vallam forest belt of the Courtallam range, Tamil Nadu. According to Manoj Kumar Sarcar, district forest officer, Tirunelveli division, he was informed about illegal felling of teak tress. Following this, he sent a team of forest officials to comb the entire Vallam belt.

The team inspected the belt and found 61 trees - 42 teak trees and 19 other trees - worth Rs 3 lakh had been felled during the last four months.

On an enquiry, Sarcar found that the four forest officials, including a forester, had connived in the illegal felling of tress. The accused were released after paying a fine of Rs 80,000.

According to Sarcar, the only way to check organised deforestation is by keeping a close watch on forest officials, because it is with their help that trees are felled in a big way.