Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A green activist lodged a complaint with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) on Thursday, flagging the cutting of over 50 trees in the catchment area of the Kerwa Dam, which is a tiger corridor.

As per Rashid Noor Khan’s complaint, a high-level independent inquiry should be conducted into this matter, and criminal action taken against the culprits.

The area should be immediately declared a protected forest area, and a complete ban should be imposed on all non-forest activities, such as construction, road widening, and tree felling. The remaining forest strip between Kerwa-Bairgarh Chichli should be protected as a tiger corridor.

A permanent monitoring committee should be formed to protect wildlife and prevent human-animal conflict. Arrangements should be made for garbage disposal in the area, and a fire protection plan should be made to control fire.

The slum settlement should be removed immediately and prevented from resettling there in the future. A transparent system should be implemented at forest posts, the complaint said.

Speaking to the Free Press, Khan said, “Trees have been cut in the Kerwa Dam area of the Bhopal district, which is a tiger corridor. This area is sensitive from an environmental and biodiversity point of view, and regular movement of about 28 to 30 tigers has been recorded here.

This area stretches from Bairagarh Chichli to the back of Kerwa. More than 50 trees have been cut in a planned manner in the area. This work was done despite the area being close to the forest post, which makes it clear that there is a conspiracy in this.”