By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 18 Jun: Large-scale illegal felling of trees has been taking place in the forests of Raipur Range under the Mussoorie Forest Division in district Dehradun, over the past 22 years, but the action taken by the Forest Department has come under serious scrutiny. Information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that from 2004 to June 2026, as many as 642 trees and coppice growth were illegally felled across various forest areas of Raipur Range, Mussoorie Forest Division. Despite this, cases were registered against only 79 offenders, while several matters remain unresolved even today.
The information was furnished by the Public Information Officer (PIO) of Raipur Range, Mussoorie Forest Division, in response to an RTI application. The details sought by RTI activist Manish Kumar Sehgal have brought to light extensive information regarding forest offences and the action taken against them.
According to official Forest Department records, illegal felling was reported in several areas of Raipur Range, including Johri, Sinaula, Maldevta, Chandrauti, Bishtgaon, Phufalkot, Guniyal Gaon and Kimadi. Collectively, these areas accounted for the illegal felling of 642 trees. Independent observers claim that many more trees may have been felled illegally in these areas over the past few years but 642 is the officially recorded number. The region is considered one of the most environmentally sensitive forest belts of Dehradun. These forests not only protect the city’s water sources but also serve as natural habitats for wildlife.
In its RTI response, the Forest Department has stated that cases had been registered against 79 persons in connection with illegal felling incidents. However, the most startling revelation is the department’s admission that copies of the challan reports are no longer available in its office records. In other words, even in cases where action was reportedly taken, crucial documents have not been preserved. This has raised serious questions over departmental record management and the transparency of enforcement proceedings.
The department further disclosed that a total of 53 forest offence cases related to illegal felling were registered. Of these, 30 cases have been disposed of by the courts, while 23 cases remain pending at various stages. This means that nearly half the cases have not reached their final conclusion despite the passage of several years.
The figures emerging from the RTI response raise several pertinent questions. If 642 trees were illegally felled over a period of 22 years as per the official records, did the Forest Department fail to prevent these incidents in time? Were all those responsible for the illegal felling brought to book? If not, what happened to the remaining offenders? Moreover, who will be held accountable for the disappearance or non-availability of challan records in cases where legal action was initiated? The information provided by the department offers no answers to these questions.
It may be reminded here that the forests of Raipur Range, Mussoorie Forest Division form a vital part of Dehradun’s green belt. Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that continuous illegal felling adversely affects groundwater reserves, biodiversity and wildlife habitats. Such activities can also aggravate problems such as soil erosion and landslides.
While governments continue to highlight their commitment to forest conservation and green development, the figures revealed through the RTI indicate that hundreds of trees were illegally felled over the past two decades and that action in most cases remains incomplete. The situation casts a serious shadow over the Forest Department’s monitoring mechanism, record management practices and the effective enforcement of forest laws.
