Keonjhar: Divisional forest officer (DFO) Dhanraj HD carried out an inspection on Sunday following allegations of tree felling alongside National Highway 49 near Keonjhar town.Sources said that under the NHAI grant, Odisha Forest Development Corporation planted various types of trees on govt land along the NH and provided fencing on both sides for protection. After maintaining the area for five years, the corporation handed over the stretch to the NHAI.But due to a lack of protection, the land mafia allegedly cut down the trees and built a road to a plotted land without obtaining permission from either NHAI or the forest department.On Sunday, DFO Dhanraj went to the spot near Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital and found that 16 trees had been felled without obtaining necessary permission. The DFO informed that a notice will be given to the NHAI in this regard. He said those responsible for cutting the trees and constructing the road have been identified and action would be action as per law.
Trees have been felled to construct a road
