Three special teams formed to probe illegal tree felling in Kodaikanal

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) Srinivas R. Reddy has formed three special parties to undertake a detailed enumeration of the illegal felling of wattle and eucalyptus trees in Mannavanur range in Kodaikanal division.

As per the order, the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests V .C. Rahul will head the teams which are required to submit their findings before January 31.

The three teams, which are expected to visit three different locations namely, Mannavanur range, Berijam range and Kodaikanal range, shall consist of 11 members each. The team members have been drawn from various zones across Tamil Nadu.

The officials in the Dindigul Division are required to furnish all records sought by the special parties as part of the comprehensive probe.

After the eco-activist groups in the upper hill station raised eyebrows over the rampant felling of over 1200 Shola trees, sometime in November-December 2025, the Forest department swung into action and ordered the probe.

Preliminary inquiries conducted within the department led to the suspension of four officers including the forest range officer in Dindigul division in this connection.

According to the activists, the illegal felling of trees, most of which were identified as rare species, had been executed in connivance with some timber merchants and the wood was transported to different parts of Kerala by trucks.

The teams headed by the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests will visit the hill station soon, officials here said.