GUJRAT, July 14: An influential contractor with the connivance of some officials of the forest department has illegally chopped off trees worth over Rs2 million from both sides of the Shadiwal-Qiladar Road-Mohla Road area, it is learnt here on Thursday. Sources said Rasheed had obtained a contract for cutting of dried-up trees from Shadiwal to the Mohla Road for a few hundreds of thousands of rupees. But instead of cutting the dried-up trees, they said, the contractor had chopped off green trees worth around Rs1 million.

Furthermore, they said, the contractor also cut trees worth Rs1 million from Shadiwal to the Qiladar Road after greasing the palms of the district forest officer and the area block officer.

They said the fraud was checked when the EDO (agriculture) moved against illegal cutting of trees in Shadiwal area on a complaint.

According to the rules, a contractor must pay a fine of Rs0.1 million for cutting a green tree and for stealing trees he has to face criminal proceedings. No action has, however, been taken against the contractor so far.

When contacted, the contractor denied stealing trees from the area and bribing the forest department officials. The district forest officer also denied the charge of corruption and said all the work was being carried out lawfully.

Meanwhile, residents of Mohla, Sama, Tarikha and Qiladar have protested against cutting of green trees and demanded a probe.