Patrolling has been intensified inside Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary in the wake of tree felling and seizure of timber but villagers are not allowing officials vehicles into villages.

At the 85 villages and hamlets dotting the 192sqkm elephant abode, residents have barred entry of outsiders because of the novel coronavirus scare with barricades at entry points and approach roads

Assistant conservator of forest R.P. Singh said: “Our teams are forced to enter the villages without vehicles. It is not possible to effectively conduct search operations without vehicles. The work is getting affected.”

Only after repeated pleadings, the forest patrol teams are allowed entry but without vehicles.

Foresters, guards and trackers (village youths recruited on daily wages to keep tab on animal movement) are allowed entry as they are acquainted with the villagers but that too after persistent requests.

The patrol teams are required to enter the villages for recovery of the stolen timber. Moreover, they have to enter the jungles by crossing the villages.

“Villagers keep the timber in the villages after felling the trees in the jungles. Sometimes they leave the timber in the jungles and collect it later. The situation arising out of the lockdown has forced us not to act tough on the villagers. But we do warn them not to fell trees because it is illegal and they can be prosecuted,” a forester said, adding that stolen timber is being used to put up barricades.

According to the forester, it is very difficult to scan the 192sqkm sanctuary with minimal strength and vehicles.

“Forest guards and trackers tour the sanctuary in four Jeeps. It is not practically possible to scan the whole area, which also include difficult terrains. But we have to carry on to save the jungles,” he said.

The Dalma authorities had on Wednesday and Thursday seized timber from the jungles near Dimna and Pardih. Joblessness particularly because of the nationwide lockdown has forced villagers, especially women, to fell trees inside the sanctuary for livelihood.

The timber is sold in Jamshedpur and a part is used for cooking.