Madhya Pradesh: 4,000 Trees Felled Without Consent In Balaghat, Villagers Protest

Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh): A private company has felled 4,000 trees in Saleteka village in Kirnapur Tehsil without permission.

The felling of trees enraged the villagers who, led by MLA Madhu Bhagat, staged a sit-in against the company. MP State Industrial Development Corporation (MPSDIC) allotted the disputed land to Gurudev Rice Industries located in Rajnandangaon in Chhattisgarh to set up a rice mills.

Reacting to the incident, Bhagat said the revenue department had allotted 33.768 hectares in Saletake village. The revenue department handed over to the village Panchayat on forged papers.

Bhagat said Tehsildar Poornima Bhagat wrote to the panchayat to acquire the land. But the panchayat did not want to allot the land to the company. The sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) held a meeting with the officials of the village panchayat.

A few villagers present at the meeting advised the official not to allot the land to the company. The Tehsildar and chief executive officer of Janpad Panchayat of Kirnapur mounted pressure on the Panchayat Sarpanch and secretary for allotting the land.

A proposal containing 153 signatures was prepared. In March this year, SDM examined the case and recommended allotment of the land in April this year. MPSIDC allotted the land on the basis of the SDM’s recommendations.

When the villagers were staging a sit-in, SDM Kartik Jaiswal reached the spot. Jaiswal said an investigation into the felling of trees and construction over more than the allotted would be ordered.

Those found guilty would be punished, Jaiswal said.

Collector Mrinal Meena said Gurudev Industries must have taken permission for acquiring the land.

If the company has done anything wrong, the administration will conduct an inquiry and act against it. The administration will act against the company if it is found guilty, he said.