BACK TO MAIN SITE
THE STATE OF THE TIGER Acknowledgements   Introduction   National Update   International Trade   MP Tiger State   Poaching and Trade   Timber Mafia   Wildlife and People   Bastar Timber Scam   Netam Scam   Local People Timber Fraud   Report on Wildlife   Sal Borer Scam   Fish Mafia   Mining   Indrawati   Staff Issues   Nationwide   Kaziranga   Conclusions   Timber Mafia - Exploitation of Local People Since 1994 over 20,000 trees have been felled illegally by the timber mafia in the Bastar district alone. With one fully grown teak tree valued at up to $1200, those involved have made a considerable fortune at the expense of Bastar's tribal people, forests and wildlife. Basudev Bhaskar of Mohapur village is another victim of the Bastar timber Mafia. In January 1997 he sold his land and the trees on it to a local timber merchant - Mohammed Bai. The agreed price for the 15 acres of land and 18 trees was approximately US$450. Basudev only received US$45 while Bai brought in outsiders to cut the trees. The Bastar timber scam then broke in the media and before Bai's contractor could collect the logs, the Forest Department arrived in the village at the request of a local non governmental organisation. Basudev has got his land back, but no case has been brought against Bai. He is alleged to be a friend of the former Forest Minister, Shiv Netam. next... Tigers Home