Villagers Protest Illegal Felling Of Trees In Odisha

Sambalpur: Protesting illegal felling of trees, locals of Khamarbahal and Machadihi village in Rairakhol blocked Sambalpur-Kisinda road near Machadihi on Sunday.

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the Sambalpur-Kisinda road due to the road blockade.

The villagers reportedly resorted to such blockade as the local administration didn't pay heed to their repeated complaints regarding rampant felling of trees in Ratakhandi and Purunapani reserve forest under Rairakhol forest division by intruders from Chhattisgarh and Bihar.

The villagers alleged that intruders from Chhattisgarh and Bihar have been indiscriminately cutting trees in the reserve forest area for the past several months. Though the matter was brought to the knowledge of the local administration, no steps were taken to stop the illegal felling of trees, the villagers alleged.

Besides, the villagers claimed that they had earlier submitted a memorandum to the district administration in this connection.

Till last reports came in, police were on the spot to pacify the agitating villagers.