A massive environmental crime has come to light in Panchkula, Haryana, where over 10,000 Khair trees were allegedly cut down illegally. The incident has sparked significant public outrage as the forest guard who reported the crime, Vijay Kumar, was suspended by authorities instead of being rewarded. Following the orders of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is now looking into the deep-rooted nexus between timber smugglers and forest officials.
Details of the Illegal Operation and Khair Wood Value
The smugglers used silent cutting machines and camels to move the expensive wood without drawing attention. To hide the evidence, they burned the remaining stumps of the trees. Khair wood is highly sought after for producing ‘kattha’ used in paan masala and Ayurvedic medicines, making it a prime target for illegal trade. The scale of the scam is alleged to extend beyond Panchkula to other sanctuary lands across the state.
- Estimated value: One Khair tree costs between 8,000 to 10,000 rupees.
- Heartwood logs: These sell for around 7,500 rupees per quintal.
- Dry wood logs: These fetch approximately 6,000 rupees per quintal.
- Logistics: Camels were used for quiet movement, and stumps were burned to destroy evidence.
SIT Formation and Official Action Taken
Police Commissioner Sibash Kabiraj has formed an SIT led by ACP Arvind Kamboj to investigate what he termed an organized environmental crime. So far, 11 individuals have been arrested in connection with the illegal felling, including a forest officer accused of taking bribes. The case has been registered under various provisions of the BNS, Forest Act, and Wildlife Protection Act.
| Key Person | Role and Action Taken |
|---|---|
| Vijay Kumar | Forest Guard who reported the crime; currently suspended and protesting. |
| Raghuvindra Singh | Forest Officer arrested under Prevention of Corruption Act. |
| Nayab Singh Saini | Haryana Chief Minister who ordered the SIT formation. |
| Arrested Suspects | 11 people including Imran, Dil Bahadur, and Shakil are in custody. |
Strict Rules for Tree Felling in Haryana
Since October 2025, the National Green Tribunal has made it mandatory to get approval from the Divisional Forest Officer before cutting any trees, even on private land. This is critical for Haryana as the state has a very low forest cover of only 3.25 percent. The law requires planting three new trees for every one cut, but in this case, the felling was done entirely without permits or records. The SIT is now tracing the buyers and transporters involved in this network.
