Court orders State to probe tendu leaf scam

Court orders State to probe tendu leaf scam
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NAGPUR, MARCH 14: Based on the report by an amicus curiae appointed after treating a letter by a Chandrapur journalist as writ petition, a Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has directed the State Government to find out if there is any nexus between tendu leaf contractors and Forest Deparment officials resulting in forest fires as alleged by the petitioner.

The letter by journalist Sanjay Bhanushali had alleged that such a nexus exists to facilitate the contractors to reap extra harvest of tendu leaves. The court had accepted and appreciated the report by amicus curiae Advocate Anand Parchure.

Normally, a tendu leaf takes 55 days for full growth. Leaf plucking is done generally in summer. The contractors, in their bid to make a fast buck, resort to igniting forest fires. The heat generated by forest fires prompts a faster growth of the tendu trees, giving the contractors an extra rich harvest. But in the process, valuable forest property worth crores is destroyed, it is alleged. Many times, fires are ignited also by antler-hunters. When shrubs get gutted, antlers shed by antelops can be easily located.

The HC bench, comprising Justice J N Patel and Justice P S Brahme, on Tuesday, asked the government pleader Bhushan Gavai to file a report on the issue. The hearing is slated for April 6.