PUNE, Nov 17: ``Merely increasing the amount of fine is not enough. Mandatory imprisonment needs to be inflicted on the offender and those who abet the offence of unauthorised felling of trees in ecologically fragile hill station areas.''

This is the recommendation made by Satara's deputy conservator of Forest Dr P N Munde in a note submitted to Pune divisional commissioner Arun Bhatia on measures for preventing deforestation and protection of forest from encroachment in Mahabaleshwar.

``A fine of Rs 1,000 per unauthorised felled tree as provided in the Maharashtra Felling of Trees Act, 1964, is too meagre for ecologically fragile hill station areas and only an increase in the fine will not stop illegal felling of trees,'' Munde said in the note.

At present, the state government is considering a proposal to increase the fine from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000. Munde, however, feels that nothing but mandatory imprisonment will have ``the severe deterrent effect''.

The Western sub-tropical hill forest covering 5,568 hectares of the Mahabaleshwar plateau has evergreen species, ``regeneration of which is either scanty or totally absent,'' says the forest official.

``This is because of tremendous pressure of habitation, grazing, and frequent human interference including collection of firewood by local population.

The biotic interference is many times higher than its sustenance. Hence this area is lacking regenerative potential.'' The fire fighting measures forcefully suggested by the deputy conservator include total withdrawal of the privilege granted to the local community to remove dead firewood from the Mahabaleshwar forest granted during the Raj under rule 138 (43) of the Bombay Forest Manual. ``The permit holders are not allowed to carry felling implements like axes, bill-hook or sickles while going to bring firewood.

They are allowed to collect only dead wood for their bonafide purpose,'' says Munde, ``But many times it is seen that permit holders carry felling instruments in the forest and cut trees.''

He submits that the municipal councils of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani be asked to provide fuel wood for ``bonafide'' domestic purpose of local inhabitants and preferably running their own fuelwood depots under the forest department supervision.

In the meanwhile, to check ``this menace of illicit felling and deforestation,'' he has sought augmenting the strength of the forest personnel at Mahabaleshwar from the present 52 by another 30, including three armed constables and 12 lady constables, since most illicit head-loaders are women. Another measure suggested by him is to include five dominant tree species on the Mahabaleshwar plateau in the schedule for protected species .

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.