ILLEGAL LOGGING

The Supreme Court has ordered a CBI enquiry into the Bastar forest scandal that is related to illegal transfers and serious irregularities in grant of permission for felling of trees. The division bench comprising Justice J S Verma, Justice B N Kripal and Justice B N Khare expressed concern that even after its desire, the state government has not been able to deal with the matter expeditiously. The government adopted this approach despite getting the report of the Lokayukta of Madhya Pradesh. In response to an order of the Supreme Court, the Lokayukta had submitted a report on the irregularities allegedly committed by some officials in connivance with politicians.