Rajahmundry: The forest authorities have found illegal felling of nearly 50,000 bamboo plants at Papikonda National Park recently.
Based on preliminary inquiry, Telangana forest staff allegedly felled the plants as part of a regular exercise of extraction of bamboo from the forest area which was earlier a part of Khammam district and later merged into Godavari districts of AP after the bifurcation.
Local forest authorities noticed that the area from where the bamboo plants were felled falls under Kukkunuru forest range limits, which is a part of AP’s national park.
Local forest authorities say the park is under AP and only state forest staff can extract bamboo plants.
Rajahmundry circle chief conservator of forests B.K. Singh said an inquiry into the felling has been ordered. “Even if TS forest officials are involved, it is illegal and we will proceed against them as per norms.
Local forest officials inspected the area and found that nearly 50,000 bamboo plants had been felled. Efforts are on to find those responsible for doing so.
