Centre launches high-level probe into massive tree felling in Dharampur belt of Himachal, Congress MLA Chander Shekhar under scanner

Dharampur (Mandi):
The Dharampur illegal tree-felling scandal has escalated into a full-blown controversy with the Central Government stepping in, launching a high-level investigation into the alleged nexus involving Congress MLA Chander Shekhar, his wife, and several forest and revenue officials.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has constituted a three-member committee to probe the rampant illegal logging and hoarding of green timber in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh.

Headed by Indian Forest Service officer George Jenner, Deputy Director General, the central panel has been tasked with examining the unauthorized felling of thousands of trees, including species protected under environmental law. The Centre’s move casts serious doubts on the effectiveness and neutrality of the earlier probe conducted by the state government.

At the core of the scandal lies Bahri Renewable Energy, a firm reportedly linked to MLA Chander Shekhar and his wife Kavita Shekhar. The company is accused of stockpiling over 5,200 quintals of timber without forest clearance, on leased land in Bahri, Dharampur.

Shocking details emerged during inspections, with 507 quintals sourced from ecologically significant trees like Peepal, Banyan, Mango, and Japanese Mulberry, while another 1,300-plus quintals came from Semal and Shirish trees. So far, the Forest Department has seized nearly 1,842 quintals of illegally hoarded timber.

The scam came to light through an RTI filed by former Zila Parishad member Bhupendra Singh, revealing major discrepancies in forest records. A formal complaint followed by Saklana Panchayat Pradhan Surendra Kumar on December 22, 2024, prompting an initial investigation. The issue snowballed rapidly, leading to a Vidhan Sabha inquiry launched just two days later.

A state assembly committee had already flagged serious violations, including allegations of illegal stockpiling and attempts to bury timber at night using JCB machines in the Proun Dhang region. The role of contractors, officials, and MLA’s wife is now under the lens, with suspicions of encroachment on forest and government lands.

Documents show no legal clearance or depot license was ever issued, despite a formal request made on November 27, 2024. The growing scandal has sparked political outrage and environmental concerns, with calls for criminal action gaining momentum ahead of the Central team’s expected visit.

Munish Sood