Green Massacre in Dholumber! Illegal Logging Racket Exposed Under the Guise of ‘Land Leveling’; Forest Dept Seizes Massive Khair Timber Stash! (2026)

Chikhli Environmental Crisis: Media Exposé Leads to Swift Forest Action

The silent forests of Dholumber village in Chikhli Taluka have finally found a voice. Following explosive media reports detailing a massive illegal logging operation, the Forest Department has swung into action. What was officially presented as a routine “land leveling” project turned out to be a cover for the systematic destruction of protected timber. In a high-stakes raid conducted on January 10, 2026, officials recovered a significant quantity of valuable Khair (Catechu) wood, exposing a deeper nexus of land mafias and environmental offenders.

The Raid: Behind the ‘Land Leveling’ Smokescreen

Acting on the pressure from the press and local environmentalists, the Forest Staff targeted Block Number 943 in Dholumber.

• The Findings: Investigators discovered 16 large stumps (logs) of Khair wood, totaling 0.610 cubic meters, hidden on the property.
• The Seizure: The timber, valued at approximately ₹24,095, was immediately confiscated and moved to the government depot.
• The Accused: A case has been registered against the landowner, Shankarbhai Narsinhbhai Patel (Nishal Faliya), under the Forest Conservation Act.

Modus Operandi: Soil Theft & Evidence Destruction

Local sources reveal a chilling pattern of how the village’s natural resources are being plundered:

1. The Resolution Loophole: The Gram Panchayat reportedly passes resolutions for “land leveling.” Mafias use this paper trail to bring in heavy machinery.
2. Excavation Racket: Instead of leveling the surface, deep pits are dug to extract and sell soil and morum (red gravel) illegally.
3. Burning the Evidence: To hide the illegal felling of trees during excavation, offenders reportedly burn the stumps and roots of the trees so they cannot be counted by forest officials during inspections.

Why Khair Wood is Highly Targetted?

Khair (Acacia catechu) is a protected species in Gujarat due to its high commercial value.

• Kattha Extraction: The heartwood is processed to extract ‘Kattha,’ a primary ingredient used in paan, medicine, and leather tanning.
• Strength: It is one of the hardest woods, making it ideal for making tool handles and agricultural implements.
• Slow Growth: Because it takes decades to mature, illegal felling of even a few trees causes long-term ecological damage.

Impact Table: Dholumber Environmental Loss

Forest Department’s Stern Warning

The Chikhli Forest Range has intensified its patrolling in the Dholumber-Chikhli belt. Officials have warned that any “land leveling” activity involving the removal of trees must have prior written permission from the Forest Department. Failure to produce a permit will now result in immediate seizure of machinery (JCBs/Trucks) and potential imprisonment for the landowners.

#ChikhliNews2026 #DholumberVillage #ForestRaid #IllegalLogging #SaveOurTrees #NavsariUpdate #KhairWoodSeizure #EnvironmentFirst #GujaratForestDept #BreakingNewsChikhli

📌 Note:
This article is published on OurVapi.com The information presented is based on public sources, local inputs, field observations, and the author’s independent assessment. It is intended to be useful primarily for readers from Vapi, Valsad, Umbergaon, Sarigam, Bhilad, Silvassa, Daman, and nearby regions.

The core objective of OurVapi.com is to deliver accurate, useful, factual, and verified information with a strong focus on local news, public awareness, culture, lifestyle, and community-related topics.

If you found this article helpful, please share it and leave your thoughts in the comments section.
Stay connected with OurVapi.com for reliable local news, updates, and community-focused content.