Una (HP), March 19 According to villagers, approximately 1,000 Khair trees, worth crores of rupees, have allegedly been cut down in the forest in the Jhamber Panchayat area of the Una district.
The issue came to light on Wednesday when villagers went to the forest and discovered that a large number of Khair trees had been cut.
The Khair tree (Senegalia catechu), also known as Acacia catechu, is valued for its heartwood, which produces 'kattha' used in paan. It is also used in traditional medicine for its astringent properties and provides durable timber, goat fodder, and edible gum.
Locals denounced the mass-scale cutting and wondered how the forest department could be completely unaware, especially after villagers had alerted it about the mafia's activities in the forest.
The forest, which borders a village settlement, was once dense and home to many Khair trees, but has been cleared of a large section of its tree cover, according to several villagers, who accused government officials of colluding with the mafia.
The villagers demanded an impartial investigation into the matter.
Meanwhile, a joint team from the forest department and the police arrived at the scene late on Wednesday evening to assess the damage.
Una Divisional Forest Officer Sushil Rana said that if such a large number of Khair trees had been cut down, it constitutes a serious and alarming matter, and promised action against the perpetrators.