The Hindu

Teak trees illegally felled in Chalakudy forest division, sold to private firm, says report

273 trees, some over 60 years old, were sold to a Thiruvananthapuram-based wood industries firm for 8.52 lakh against its assessed value of 41.55 lakh, as per an initial probe by the Divisional Forest Officer of Flying Squad. Report says real value could be higher. Trees on private holdings and assigned land were illegally felled for the State hill highway works, says the report