Authorities act against 27 illegal sawmills in Pune

The forest department has cracked down on 27 sawmills that were operating illegally in the Pune and Solapur districts. This operation occurred from February 28 to March 20. During this period, twelve cases were filed by a local forest officer in Pimpri Chinchwad, while a mobile squad from the Pune forest circle added 15 more cases. Authorities have also taken action against several companies involved in illegal tree cutting and wood storage. As part of the enforcement, three vehicles carrying wood without proper documentation were seized. Tukaram Jadhav, who leads the mobile squad, stated that they are compiling a detailed report on the amount of wood confiscated during this operation. In Pimpri Chinchwad, around 900 tonnes of illegal materials were seized, leading to cases against 12 sawmill owners. The investigation is ongoing. The sawmills mainly supply wood to hotels, the packaging industry, and households. These illegal sawmills contribute to environmental damage by threatening trees like pine. They also import various tree species illegally, including neem, tamarind, khair, teak, and sandalwood, worsening the situation.