Jagdalpur. In Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division, smugglers were found smuggling wood and wildlife. Now, smugglers are also smuggling tendu leaves. The forest department got information about the tendu leaves being found in Pedakurti village under Dornapal police station in Sukma district. As soon as the information was received, CCF RC Dugga reached the spot and conducted an investigation.
Investigation revealed that the villager had started an illegal fair in Pedakurti village. About 24,500 standard bags of tendu leaves were recovered from there. The department seized the tendu leaves under the Forest Act and imposed a fine of Rs 40,000 against the accused Konta resident Mohd. Abdul Karim Khan, Sheikh Naeem and Pedakurti resident Kawasi Hidma.
Tendu leaves seized along with 8 motorcycles
It is said that the accused is preparing to collect tendu leaves from the forests of Bastar and send them to the border states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The forest department is conducting searches at the checkpoints to prevent the smuggling of tendu leaves. Due to which 8 motorcycles were seized while carrying tendu leaves to the border states. The seized motorcycles will be presented in the court under the Forest Act.
Teams formed to stop smuggling
RC Dugga, Chief Forest Conservator of Forest Department Jagdalpur Circle, said that a team has been formed to stop the smuggling of tendu leaves. Green gold is produced in Bastar during the summer season. Tendu leaves are the best source of income for the tribals. The government also gets revenue from this.