Outrage grips Ballari after a contractor and his team illegally axed 25 valuable trees late at night for a road expansion, sparking swift action from forest officials and police. Eight individuals now face multiple charges, including evidence tampering.
Acting on intelligence, forest personnel rushed to the Vidyanagar-Kolagal Road stretch around 10:30 PM Thursday. They discovered rampant tree cutting with heavy machines, no approvals in sight.
Workers shrugged off demands for permission papers, insisting on project deadlines. When officials moved to intervene, confrontation turned ugly: assailants grabbed and wrecked a recording device.
Police assistance finally stopped the carnage. The haul included 21 teak logs, two neem, two peepal—totaling five tonnes confiscated. FIRs target Tillu Chaudhary, Ravi Moka, Ratnababu, and accomplices at Kaul Bazar station.
Background reveals PWD’s initial request for 233 trees was curtailed to 139 via redesign mandate on March 23 for ecological balance. Defying orders, the crew struck nocturnally.
Dr. Basavaraj KN, Deputy Conservator, condemned the breach: ‘Violators will face the full force of law.’
Environmentalists decry the incident as symptomatic of reckless development. With Ballari’s green lungs under threat, this crackdown signals zero tolerance. Investigations continue, promising heavy fines and potential imprisonment to safeguard Karnataka’s tree heritage.
