Three different inquiry reports of the Haryana Forest Department in the last over one year have revealed close to 3,000 trees have been illegally felled in the Pinjore-Morni region.The information procured by Vijay Bansal, president of Shivalik Vikas Manch and Congress leader, under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, revealed that while 1,456 khair trees were felled in the area along with HMT, Pinjore, 1,148 khair trees were felled in the Aasrewali Protected Forest (part of Khol Hi-Raitan wildlife sanctuary) and 376 stumps of eucalyptus were found in Muvas village, Morni.Area along with HMT land and Asrewali Protected ForestInformation procured under the Right to Information (RTI) Act revealed that a total of 1,456 Khair (Acacia catechu) trees were cut in the area along with HMT in Pinjore, which falls under the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP). A survey of the land on March 28 found 1,456 Khair stumps.In an inquiry report submitted by a committee under SDM Kalka, dated April 6, it was noted that the Forest Department didn’t inform the HSVP, the land owner, about the illegal felling of trees. No communication was made with them. The land was covered under Section 4 of the PLPA, and permission was required from the Divisional Forest Officer to cut trees.The Committee was of the view that HSVP should take steps to protect trees and ensure patrolling at sensitive places and entry points. It was opined that, in the case of illegal felling of trees, immediate action should be taken and the forest department should be intimated.To check illegal felling in Aasrewali Protected Forest, part of Khol Hi-Raitan wildlife sanctuary, an inquiry was conducted under IFS officer R Anand, Conservator of Forests, West Circle, Hisar. The four-member committee was constituted on March 2, and the next day, the survey was conducted. The Committee’s report, dated March 6, found that a total of 1,148 trees were illegally felled. The felling was highly selective, with 99.9 per cent of the trees being khair (acacia catechu), “indicating a commercial motive”, said the report.The report further highlighted that “the recovery of a power chain saw blade cover and the presence of clean-cut stump surfaces confirm the use of mechanized saws.”  There were also deliberate attempts “to hide the illicit activity by covering stumps with sand and large boulders,” added the report.Felling in Muwas villageA report dated March 26, 2025, revealed the felling of 376 Eucalyptus stumps and 772 coppice shoots in the village of Muwas, Bhoj Matour, Morni (Panchkula). The eucalyptus plantation was carried out by the Forest Department under the Community Forestry Project as an agroforestry measure to improve the livelihoods and incomes of local farmers. However, the allegations are concerning the felling of 2,000 trees.The matter is pending before the National Green Tribunal, and the next hearing is on July 20. The government’s claims are under contest in the case.It is pertinent to mention that the then Conservator of Forests, North Circle, had visited the site on March 21, 2025, and reported the felling of 2,000 Eucalyptus trees, though later another four-member committee, under IFS Vasvi Tyagi, concluded that there were only 376 stumps.As per information provided to Bansal, dated May 25, it has come to light that in the Morni-Pinjore Forest Division, out of 105 sanctioned posts of Forest Guards, 83 are vacant, which is 79 per cent of the sanctioned strength. Of the seven Deputy Range Forest Officer posts, five are vacant, amounting to 71.4 per cent.Also, of the 22 sanctioned forest wildlife guards, 16 posts are vacant.Bansal said, “More than half a dozen forest officials and employees were suspended — and two senior-most IFS officers were relieved of their duties — in connection with the illegal felling of trees.”He added, “It is surprising that some of these officials were reinstated and re-posted to the Pinjore-Morni Forest Division just a month after their suspension.”