Forest dept act against unauthorised use of saw

Kolhapur: The Kolhapur forest department on Monday seized a 12-inch circular saw, a motor and a saw blade in action against a furniture shopowner at the Timber Market area in Kolhapur city for operating the saw machine without the required permit.Karvir Range forest officer Nandkumar Nalawde said during an inspection at a furniture shop in Ganji Mal on Monday evening, officials found a standing sawing machine in use. "When asked to produce a sawmill licence, the shopowner admitted he did not have one. Consequently, the team seized a 12-inch standing saw (circular saw), a 1.5 horsepower motor and one saw blade. A case was eventually registered under Section 53(10)A of the Maharashtra Forest Rules, 2014, for operating the machine without a valid permit," Nalawde said.The department has been conducting a special drive targeting illegal wood cutting and unauthorised sawmill operations over the past three months. And the instant action was part of the drive.