Case filed against Vodafone, 7 forest officials suspended

BHOPAL: Seven forest officials including a ranger have been suspended and a case was registered against a multi-national telecom company for laying cables without permission in two wildlife sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh.

"Seven forest officials were suspended yesterday for negligence of duty and a case was registered against Vodafone Essar South Limited Company under Forest Conservation Act, following a probe which found that the telecom company had undertaken illegal digging and cable laying work in Ratapani and Singhori sanctuaries between August and October," officials said.

Besides, show cause notices had been served upon R K Dixit and C S Dubey-- superintendents of Ratapani and Singhori sanctuaries respectively, they said.

The probe was initiated following a complaint lodged by environmental NGO Prayatna with the Madhya Pradesh forest minister Sartaj Singh last month. The organisation had also written to prime minister Manmohan Singh and environment minister Jairam Ramesh on the issue.

Bhopal chief conservator of forests A K Bhattacharya had recommended suspension of Dixit and Dubey on November 30 on the basis of the probe report by divisional forest officer of Obaidullahganj Forest Division, the officials said.