Information has come to light that large-scale illegal felling of trees with the help of JCBs is underway in the Chitranagari area. Environmental activists and locals have alleged that private male and female bouncers have been appointed to stop tribal locals opposing the felling of trees.
Land clearing had started in some areas of Chitranagari area in Goregaon East from June 6. After that, the trees there started being cut down. The area concerned falls under the environmentally sensitive zone. No construction, excavation or felling of trees can be done in such areas without legal permission. However, eyewitnesses are saying that trees are being felled without any hindrance using JCB machines.
"These forests and trees, which our ancestors preserved, are our life. Now all this is being encroached upon and we are not allowed to protest," said a tribal woman activist. Meanwhile, when the local tribals opposed this, they were attacked. After that, the tribals complained to the police about this matter. However, the police did not come. The local tribals still practice agriculture in this area.
Locals there have alleged that tribal families are being forcibly taken away from the land they have cultivated for generations. At the same time, stones and soil from tree felling and land clearing are being dumped into a nearby river, which is likely to block the natural flow of water. Illegal tree felling has been done in the area in the past. Now it has started again and locals and environmentalists have expressed suspicion that a building or something else is being constructed here.
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