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| Open Loot of Green Gold in Sonamarg | | DFO denies smuggling | | Javaid Naikoo
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 22 : Amid tall claims of preventing forest smuggling, smugglers allegedly enjoying patronage of the forest officials are busy chopping the trees ruthlessly.
This scribe today spotted some jungle smugglers in broad day light at tourist spot Sonamarg of Ganderbal District chopping down trees in upper reaches of Gangangir area and then transporting the smuggled wood with the help of gushing river waters to nearby areas.
When the scribe and three locals tried to talk to the alleged smugglers, who had felled two green trees, they waved their axes and chased them away.
Locals alleged that despite tall claims of successive governments to curb menace of green gold smuggling in Kashmir, it never stopped.
They alleged that smuggling was never possible without the connivance of the forest officials.
Pertinently Sonamarg is one among the famous tourist destinations of Kashmir and usually remains abuzz with local and tourists from different parts of the country and abroad as well.
When Early Times contacted Ganderbal DFO Shabir Ahmad and informed him about the development in his area, he initially said that he will look into the matter and take strict action if anybody among his staff members was found involved in this activity.
However, after ten minutes DFO Ganderbal called Early Times and said that it was not any jungle smuggling activity which happened in Gagangir area today. "The forest department has given contract to some locals of the area to cut firewood for supply among general public during approaching winters," he said.
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