Bhubaneswar, December 9: As many as 21,166 timber smugglers have been arrested by the Forest Department and a fine to the tune of Rs 7,45,61,159 has been collected from them in last three years, the State Assembly was informed by Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia on Tuesday.

Responding to a query of BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy, the Minister said the year 2023 recorded the arrest of as many as 7,817 timber smugglers while 7,805 smugglers have been apprehended in 2024. In 2025 (till November 30), a total of 5,544 persons have been nabbed for timber smuggling by the Forest Department sleuths.

Fine to the tune of Rs 2,59,32,488 has been collected from the 7,817 timber smugglers in 2023 while Rs 2,95,12,669 has been collected from 7,805 accused persons in 2024 and Rs 1,91,16,002 from 5,544 in 2025, the Minister informed the House in a written reply.

According to the statistics furnished by the Minister, cash rewards of Rs 2,67,290 have been given to 385 informers for providing information about the timber smuggling and smugglers.

While 240 informers were rewarded with Rs 53,090 in 2023, the year 2024 recorded distribution of whopping Rs 1,46,200 among 80 informers. Similarly, 65 persons were rewarded with Rs 68,000 in 2025.