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Millions to be Made From Sal Borer Scam

At Sijhora forest range, approximately 70,000 cubic metres of timber had been felled in the division and it all had to be transported out of the forests and into the timber depot before the onset of monsoon and the emergence of the beetles. In April 1998, EIA visited Sijhora timber depot which is divided in half by the main road. On one side there were 22,314 cubic metres of graded logs stacked which had been shipped to the depot between January 13th and 11th April 1998 in 2814 truck loads. There were estimated to be around 23,000 cubic metres on the other side of the road. The timber was due to be auctioned off, starting on the 29th April 1998. The 1996/1997 prices for sal were US$200 per cubic metre for good timber and even if 75% of the timber felled is of good quality, as maintained by the Task Force Sub Group, then the value of timber felled in this division alone is worth up to US$10.5 million. The forest staff who EIA met at Sijhora timber depot said that 50-60% of the timber would be affected by sal borer. Even then the timber will reap between US$4.6 - 7 million.

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