KUNDAPUR : Valuable trees worth several lakhs of rupees have been looted from the reserve forest area near the Sri Lakshmi Ganapathi Temple at Jadkal Mekke near here. The temple is located in the reserve forest range.
It is suspected that the trees in 1.5 acre land were axed under the leadership of one of the members of the temple management committee.It is learnt that the trees were axed after the temple’s appeal to the forest department to fell trees in the area on the grounds that they came in the way of the development of the temple, was turned down by the department citing the reason that it was a reserve forest area.
Meanwhile, reports said the felled woods have been recovered from the residence of one of the members of the temple management, following a tip off by locals.

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3. Unabated sandalwood smuggling in Sulliapadavu reserve forest
4. Several families residing in reserve forest area forced to vacate
5. Rampant smuggling denudes Reserve Forest