Kothagudem: As part of stringent measures being taken up to check teak smuggling and deforestation, the forest department commenced overhauling of the forest protection mechanism.
Initially, the officials changed the present mechanism of check-posts to restrict teak smuggling from the forests. There are 11 check-posts at present in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district where forest cover is more. Smugglers eye the dense reserve forest where valuable teak is available and transport teak worth hundreds of crores of rupees every year.
It was found that six of the check posts were not placed properly and it is proposed to shift these posts to other key places. It was also decided to open three new check-posts at Parnasala in Dummugudem mandal, Pusukunta crossroad in Dammapet mandal and Nandipadu in Aswaraopet mandal.
The Parnasala check-post will cover most of the smuggling from Chattisgarh, passing through the Godavari and reaching the Aswapuram range of Manuguru division. Likewise, the Pusukunta cross check-post will cover smuggling from Dammapet, Aswaraopet, Chandrugonda and Mulakapalli forests.
The Nandipadu check-post in Aswaraopet mandal will cover Chintoor division connecting with AP and Telangana through this point.
These three are the key locations to check teak smuggling. The check-posts that are being relocated are Ramavaram, Yellandu crossroad, Mondikatta, Khammam crossroad, Rompedu and Indiranagar Colony. As per details, the Ramavaram check-post is being relocated at Annapureddipalli, Yellandu crossroad check-post to Kothagudem bypass road, Mondikatta to Mandrikalapadu in Paloncha mandal, Khammam crossroad to a Singareni location, Rompedu to Kachanapalli check-post and Indiranagar Colony to Morampalli Banjara. Smugglers are transporting teak illegally by bypassing the existing check posts.
Check posts like Bhadrachalam ridge point, Mandalapalli crossroads in Dammapet mandal, Aswaraopet, Sampatnagar and Gattumalla will be continued in the present locations.
All forest officials from top to the field level and check-posts employees were directed to follow strict rules and file cases against smugglers under the Forest Protection Act.
