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| Large scale felling of trees goes in Kishtwar | | |  Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Kishtwar, Mar 28: In an act of open loot of green gold in Kishtwar forests under the close nose of forest officials and the local administration, the large scale felling of black cedar and other forest flora is going on unabated in different forest compartments of Kishtwar division, particularly in compartment No. 20 B of Dool B Panchayat and in Tipra Panchayat of Bhunjwah Tehsil of Kishtwar District falling under Compartment No. 25. The local environment activists informed "Early Times" that though they brought the matter into the notice of concerned department as well as in the notice of administration, but nothing concrete was done by them to stop these "forest goons" from open loot of green gold.
They also flayed the authorities for inaction, accusing them of conniving with the timber smugglers and expressed its concern in wake of regular surfacing of several pictures and videos, also available with "Early Times" that shows and authenticated unabated large scale felling of green trees by timber mafia while authorities having responsibility to prevent the degradation of forest act as mute spectators and are unfazed to act against non performer. "Green felling has reached its crescendo in several areas of Kishtwar district these days which is not possible without the involvement of Forest officials-- Our team visited the affected compartment, but forest officials have no time to react" said that locals. While talking with "Early Times", local residents of Dool Panchayat B, alleged that the non serious approach of incharge Forest Guard raised suspicious on him and he might be himself involved in allowing the timber mafia to cut green gold from forests. They alledge that massive felling of green Cedar was going on at nearly a dozen places on large scale added that adverse effects of deforestation are evident in the form of no rains and snow being witnessed in the region. If the local sources are to be believed, illegal deforestation in the dense green patch of district Kishtwar, is going on at an alarming speed. Sources also reveal that the District Forest Protection Force is also not seem active enough to check the menace of open green gold loot.
The local residents lamented that the green Forest have been shrinking in district Kishtwar at an alarming speed, while the field staff of Forest Department including Forest Protection Force' are mute spectators to the green felling as well as timber smuggling.
Meanwhile the people of Tipra Mozza of Bhunjwah today approach Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar and submitted a written complaint to him duly signed and authenticated by Lambardar Farooq Ahmed and Chowkidar Halqa Balgran Chan Lal wherein over 2 dozen signatory allege green felling in compartment No. 25. They allege that despite repeated request to concern forestor and other forest officials, nothing was done by them to stop this menace. They said that in order to prevent further degradation of forest, they will leave with no other option except to knock the doors of DC Kishtwar added that they are hopeful that DC Kishtwar will act against these timber mafia and will help them in prevention of local forest.
Though stories about the green felling, timber smuggling and forest land encroachments have been the regular feature in print and electronic media but till date no action has been taken by the authorities concerned and thousands of kanals of forest land is being encroached year after year, which is not only used to raise crops but at many compartments people have gone to the extent of raising fruit plant orchids and even constructed houses and shanty. Sources said that in some cases, the timber smugglers put the forest on fire with an aim to destroy the evidences.
"Though it is unclear as what caused the fire, but one thing is very clear that green gold were deliberately put on fire due to various reasons" sources said added that action under law should be taken against the concerned department for their negligence and callous attitude by remaining out of reach that allows such things.
When contacted DFO Kishtwar Sunil Kumar said that the matter with regard to compartment No. 20 of Dool is in notice of the department for which he had constituted a committee that will visit to affected compartment for on spot inspection. He assured that he would take strick action against the defaulter added that even if his departmental employee would found guilty, he would be treated as the culprit. In response to green felling and loot in Bhunjwah area, DFO Kishtwar said that he will look into the matter and assured that department will take all possible steps to prevent any type of illegal felling in the district. |
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