More than 50 valuable Sal trees have been illegally felled in the Andhari forest under Laikera Forest Range in Jharsuguda. Despite eight days passing, the forest department has failed to identify the culprits, leading to public suspicion. While authorities have seized the logs, Range Officer Bandana Pashayat maintains that the investigation is ongoing. Local residents and environmentalists allege that the department is shielding influential timber mafias, highlighting a double standard where poor villagers are quickly penalized for minor wood collection while major forest crimes go unpunished. https://sambad.in/district/jharsuguda/forest-department-under-fire-over-andhari-sal-tree-felling-jharsuguda-11890913 #creator program