An environmental group has filed a complaint in the Supreme Court to stop illegal extraction of resin from pine trees in Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh.
The Himalayan Chipko Foundation Sunday said they have filed the application in the apex court, highlighting the "corruption and environmental danger due to the tapping of resin" from pine trees in Uttaranchal.
It said in a statement that the bark of the pine trees is removed and a series of parallel V-shaped channels - called blaze - are cut on the wood that secrete resin. The resin is further purified in the distillation factories to derive turpentine oil.
"Apart from shortening the longevity of the pine trees, this also increases the chance of forest fire as resin is highly inflammable," said J.P. Dabral of the foundation.
He said that in Uttaranchal, contractors engaged by forest department have been indulging in the crime, which should be banned with immediate effect.
The statement said a ban on tapping of resin in the pine forests will save the environment of the Himalayan region.Telugu Portal
