Paradip, Sept. 22: Forest personnel have arrested four persons on the charge of causing destruction to mangrove and other species in the protected forest areas in Jagatsinghpur district.

The intruders were intercepted inside the Nadiakhia reserve forest areas in Balikuda block while they were pulling down standing mangrove and other classified forest species. Implements used by the accused for felling the trees were seized from the spot. The personnel also seized a mechanised speedboat, which the offenders had anchored at the nearby creek to ferry the logs.

In a drive over the past six months, 34 people have been arrested for felling trees within the protected area.

Following stepped-up vigil by forest patrol teams, incidents of tree felling have fallen considerably.

The offenders, who were all from Astarang in Puri district, were today remanded in jail custody under the Forest Conservation Act and other provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.

Axes, other tree-cutting tools, nylon ropes were seized from their possession, said Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division officer Bimal Prasanna Acharya.

In a related development, Bhitarkanika National Park authorities have launched a drive in evicting squatters from the reserve forest area. Over 50 cases have been lodged against several other unauthorised occupiers under forest laws. Unlawful settlers have also been evicted from the mangrove forest area, said an official.

The forest areas, mainly in the Mahakalpada forest range where the tail end of the Mahanadi passes through and is crisscrossed by water inlets, had come under encroachment. Temporary mud-walled structures had come up here. A section of the fishermen community had occupied patches of land. In the occupied forestland, prawn dykes had come up as it was conducive for such activity due to the ingress of saline water. But, these areas have now been made encroachment free following periodic raids by forest department personnel, said an official.

Special squads formed for intercepting wildlife offences are also keeping tabs on illegal fishing in water bodies and creeks within the national park.

"Fishing activity within the water bodies of the sanctuary and national park is a cognisable offence. The forest department has stepped up its vigil on any act of trespass into the prohibited territories to ensure the safety of the fragile ecosystem of Bhitarkanika," said Acharya.