(Above and below) Chopped off trees lie on Regional Institute of Education campus in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 18: A number of trees have been “illegally” felled on the Regional Institute of Education (RIE) campus, which has invited the ire of the state forest department.

“More than 25 trees on the campus have been uprooted,” said RIE principal U.K. Nanda. He had reported the matter to the forest officials.

“As soon we came to know of the incident, we informed the matter to the forest department requesting them for a probe. The culprits must be identified and punished,” said Nanda.

City divisional forest officer, Jayant Das has asked the RIE management to explain the whereabouts of the trees felled.

“During a visit to the campus last week, we found some trees cut down. We have asked the management for a report,” said Das.

“The chance of the timbers being transported out of the campus and used illegally cannot be ruled out.We are waiting for the report from the authorities following which we will decide the next course of action,” said Das.

Sources in the institute said the trees were felled during the tenure of RIE’s former principal Subash Chandra Panda as part of a beautification drive. It was not known where the felled trees had been transported.

“It could be the handiwork of some staff or some senior employees. Else how could someone manage to take away so many trees without the knowledge of the management. Whatever be the case, the guilty should be punished,” said a senior official.

In a clear case of educational campuses being tampered, a number of trees have been illegally felled inside the Regional Institute of Education campus inviting the ire of the state forest department.More than 25 trees inside the campus have been uprooted, said RIE principal U K Nanda who had reported the matter to the forest officials.” “As soon we came to know of the incident, we have informed the matter to the forest department requesting them for a probe. The culprits must be identified and punished,' Nanda said.

Meanwhile the city divisional forest officer has asked the RIE management to explain the whereabouts of the trees felled.

'During a visit to the campus last week, we found some trees cut down. W e have asked the management for a report,' city divisional forest officer (DFO) Jayant Das said.

“It cannot be ruled out that the timbers were transported out of the campus and used illegally. We are waiting for the report from the authorities following which we will decide the next course of action,” the DFO said Sources in the institute said that the trees were felled during the time of RIE's former principal Subash Chandra Panda as part of a ‘beautification drive’. However it was not known where the felled trees were transported.

“It could be the handiwork of some staff or some senior employee. Else how could someone manage to take away so many trees without the knowledge of the management. Whatever be the case , the guilty should be punished, “a senior official said.