The Revenue department has intensified steps to slap penalty on those accused in the Muttil rosewood tree felling case.
The department had come under fire for its alleged apathy in taking action against the accused. However, Wayanad District Collector Renu Raj termed the allegations baseless and said that the department had completed all inspections in connection with the incident. Moreover, as many as 186 endangered rosewood trees, reserved for the government, that were axed from pattaya lands in various parts of the district were confiscated and shifted to the Forest timber depot at Kuppady.
The department also registered 75 cases, including 61 in Vythiri and 14 in Sulthan Bathery taluks.
The accused were charged under various sections of the Kerala Land Conservancy (KLC) Act, and trials were completed after serving notices on them.
“We had directed the Forest department to issue valuation certificates of the axed woods to impose a penalty on the accused as per the KLC Act,” the Collector said.
