India, March 14 -- State forest minister Eshwar B Khandre has instructed officials to step up vigilance across the state to prevent the illegal felling of trees, amid the prevailing shortage in LPG supply that has forced many homes and commercial outlets to shift to firewood for cooking.

In a memorandum addressed to the principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force in Bengaluru, the minister warned that the shift toward firewood could result in trees being cut in forests and other public spaces. "In this context, there is a risk of felling trees not only within the forests and on forest fringes, but also in departmental plantations, government lands, and trees grown along roadsides," the memorandum said.

The minister d...