Adilabad forest faces pest attack

DONGARGAM (ADILABAD): After the pink bollworm attacked the cotton crop, pests have now started damaging teakwood trees in forests of the old Adilabad district. Many of these trees have gone skeletal ever since they have come under attack by the pest. They look lifeless without leaves even in midst of the monsoon, though the rest of the forests have a green look.

Scores of trees have suffered from skeletoniser pest attack in various places of the old Adilabad district. The pest is considered seriously destructive. Green teakwood trees have turned pale yellow and leaves are falling in the monsoon, which is a rare phenomenon.

The situation is grim as Adilabad forests are predominantly covered with teakwood trees. With the monsoon around its peak, they should have been looking lush green. But the situation is pitiable, particularly in the forests of Indervalli and Sirikonda.

Forest Department officials do not seem serious about this phenomenon taking place in the Adilabad forests. Reasons for the attack are yet to be identified. For long distances, one can see the fully dried teak leaves fallen on the ground or roads in various parts of the old Adilabad district.

Adilabad forests are deciduous forests and annually shed their leaves during the summer. But once the rainy season starts, they again start blooming and looking green.