India, March 1 -- The Pune forest department on Friday launched a drive and seized 3 illegal sawmills in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Cases have been registered against the sawmill owners, said officials.

A team of forest officials including Tukaram Jadhav, range forest officer, along with eight other forest officials raided three sawmills in various areas including Kiwale, Mamurdi and Ravet. Three separate cases were registered against Preetam Kankanriya, owner of the Ravet-based sawmill, Shreyas Talkekar in Kivale-based sawmill and Abdul Khan, owner of Mamurdi-based sawmill under various sections of Maharashtra Forest rules 2014, Maharashtra Felling of Trees (Regulation) Act 1964 and Indian Forest Protection Act 1927.

Cutting machines ranging be...