Ranchi, Aug 13 - The Jharkhand government plans to withdraw minor cases filed under forest protection laws, on the lines of Orissa government, an official said Thursday.

A forest department official told IANS that adviser to the governor Sunila Basant, who has charge of the forest department, has sought details of thousands of cases under forest laws, which are pending for decades.

Many of the cases are related to collecting wood for cooking and even minors have been booked in them for violating conservation laws. Major cases of cutting and smuggling of precious trees like sal, teak and others and smuggling them will not be withdrawn.

'We have sought details from Orissa government, which has withdrawn scores of cases relating to forest disputes. We will review the cases on line of the Orissa government circular and withdraw the minor cases related to forest department,' the official said, adding the process is expected to take at least two to three months.