Bhubaneswar: In a crackdown on illegal timber operations, the forest wing of Odisha Vigilance on Thursday unearthed an unauthorised sawmill during a joint raid at Bilasuni village under Niali police station limits in Cuttack district.
Acting on specific inputs, vigilance officials found the sawmill operating without a valid licence. During the raid, they seized sawmill machinery and accessories along with 25.66 cubic feet of valuable timber, estimated to be worth ₹12,95,792.
In a related development, the team also detected illegal hoarding of an additional 51.136 cubic feet of timber stored in an open field near the village. The seized timber from this location is valued at ₹1,12,500.
Overall, timber and equipment totalling 75.796 cubic feet were confiscated, with the cumulative value of the seizure pegged at ₹14,08,292.
Further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the timber and identify those involved in the illegal operation, officials said.
