Pune: A truck transporting illegal timber was intercepted and seized by forest officials in Pune’s Alephata area (Junnar taluka). Acting on a confidential tip-off, officials set up a checkpoint on the Ahilyanagar-Kalyan National Highway and seized the vehicle on Saturday night at around 9:30 PM.
Seizure Details
During the inspection, the forest officials discovered:
8.50 cubic meters of illegally transported firewood, valued at ₹40,000 to ₹50,000
Truck (MH-05M-0714), valued at ₹6 lakh
Total seized assets: ₹6.5 lakh
The truck driver, Chandrakant Ganpat Shete, a resident of Ulhasnagar (Thane district), has been booked under relevant forest laws.
Forest Department’s Warning
The operation was conducted under the leadership of Deputy Conservator of Forests Amol Satpute, with assistance from Assistant Conservator of Forests Smita Rajhans, Range Forest Officer Lahu Thokal, and forest staff members Nikita Borkar, Kailas Bhalerao, Vishal Gund, Mahesh Jagdhane, Sahebrao Parthi, and Fulchand Khandagale.
Following this seizure, the Forest Department has issued a strict warning to villagers and farmers against engaging in illegal tree cutting and unauthorized timber transportation.
Deputy Conservator Amol Satpute emphasized that anyone caught violating forest laws will face strict legal consequences.