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| Illegal smuggling of medicinal plants deprives State of millions of rupees | | | Mudasir Tariq
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Jan 31: Despite having great potential to produce plentiful medicinal plants that could boost the economy of the state and improve healthcare sector, illegal smuggling of medicinal plants by the nomads (Bakarwals) of Kashmir coupled with government negligence has stopped the state to explore this resource.
Once known as a major source of economy in valley these medicinal plants are now said to be flooding into national and international markets through illegal smuggling, while the state has failed at large to harvest the benefits of these medicinal plants.
"During 1895 we were making Rs. 95,000 annually from this sector, you value this money in the present times it would have been in millions. Pertaining to the illegal smuggling by Bakarwals, who sell these precious plants outside the valley at cheaper rates without any check on part of the government we are losing this precious resource," said Dr. Yunis Iftikhar Munshi, Assistant Director, Regional Medicinal Plants Research Center, University of Kashmir.
Dr. Younis attributed this loot of precious resource to the politicians, who in return of vote bank provide a safe passage to the Bakarwals to smuggle these medicinal plants.
"Politicians want success in elections. These Bakarwals are the prospective voters. In return they are set free to loot these medicinal plants in forests and then smuggle them outside. Has anyone ever questioned or checked them what they are taking away along with themselves. They are taking these medicinal plants and selling them in Jammu from where it reaches to other states," he said.
While the loot goes unabated, it is said that nobody wants to speak against it, owing to the fear psychosis of the community of these Bakarwals that have a strong political back. The medicinal plants of Kashmir have good takers in China, where the prospective buyers are getting these plants through international border smuggling.
"These plants are smuggled to China, where they have a greater demand. The sorry state can be gauged by the fact that we are now importing medicinal plants from Himachal Pradesh," said an official of floriculture department wishing anonymity. Surprisingly, out of total number of medicinal plants found in the whole world, more than 50 percent of plant species with a medicinal value described in British pharmacopoeia are reportedly growing in the state as a whole. Nearly 570 plant species in valley are believed to be of medicinal importance. |
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