Gurgaon: The forest department allegedly pursued a tractor-trolley carrying illegally felled trees for nearly 100km from Pataudi before intercepting it in Hansi around 2am on Monday. Two people have been apprehended in connection with the case.The operation began after the forest department received a tip-off about tree felling in the Pataudi area. Teams were sent to search for the site but initially failed to locate it. One team subsequently spotted felled sheesham trees (Dalbergia sissoo), also known as Indian rosewood or North Indian rosewood, and began tracking the movement of the timber.Surender Dangi, Gurgaon’s divisional forest officer (DFO), told TOI that officials followed a tractor-trolley suspected to be transporting the timber. “The pursuit continued for nearly 100km, with the vehicle eventually intercepted in Hansi with active assistance from Hisar forest officials,” he said.Officials said the trolley was found carrying cut tree trunks and logs of varying sizes, secured with ropes. The department seized the vehicle and initiated the confiscation process. A forest offence report was being prepared, while further investigation was underway to establish the circumstances of the felling and transportation of the timber, officials added.“Two people have been apprehended, and we are conducting the investigation. Upon completion of the inquiry, a memo will be submitted to the district court to facilitate further action,” Dangi said.The seizure comes as Haryana is working on a proposed statewide law to regulate tree felling on non-forest land. The draft Haryana Preservation of Trees Act, 2026, proposes that 10 saplings be planted for every tree felled with permission. It also provides for a penalty of Rs 10,000 per tree for unauthorised felling, environmental compensation and a minimum three-month jail term for failure to deposit prescribed dues.The revised draft was forwarded to the state govt on Sept 8 but is yet to complete the approval process, public consultation and legislative scrutiny. The move comes after National Green Tribunal flagged gaps in the regulation of tree felling on private land not covered under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900.The proposed law assumes significance in Haryana, where forest cover remains limited and natural green spaces face pressure from development. Gurgaon has recorded the state’s highest loss of forest cover since 2019, according to the State of Forest Report 2021, released by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) in Jan 2022.The report recorded a loss of 2.47 square kilometres of forest cover in Gurgaon between Oct 2019 and Feb 2020. Forest officials have identified development projects, including road widening and other infrastructure works, as contributors to the loss of forest cover. The Aravalis, which account for much of the district’s natural forest cover, also face pressure from construction, roads and other human activities.
