Illegal tree felling costs govt Rs87 million
Trees covering almost 95 per cent of the around 28,000 acres of forests in Hyderabad have been illegally felled during the last seven years, says a report. The report, prepared by Hyderabad Forests Conservator Habibullah Nizamani, puts the losses, besides the degradation of the environment owing to deforestation, at over Rs87 million. Sources said that it was just the tip of the iceberg as the report was based on the position of forest cover in just one district of the province. The situation was also expected to be similar in other districts of the province, they said.