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Timber smuggling rampant in North Kashmir 7/5/2016 11:14:42 PM Ishtiyaq Ahmad Early Times Report Srinagar, July 5: At a time when the forest department claims they are doing 'enough' to save forests from smugglers, the North Kashmir forests are suffering from ruthless deforestation as the timber mafias are active in cutting prized Deodar and Kail trees in the forests. Locals alleged that the officials of the Forest Department are in close nexus with smugglers. Locals of the different areas of the Kupwara district informed ET on Tuesday that heavy damage is caused by jungle smugglers to the green treasure in forest range Sogam Kupwara including compartment number 17, 18, 19, 21,25,28,27 SL by smugglers. "The cutting of trees from the forests is not only ruining the natural beauty of the famous tourist destinations of the District but also badly affecting the environment, "locals said. "There is no check to the same by the authorities as the forest officials are in close nexus with smugglers," they alleged They said that officials of forest department including Range Officers, Foresters, and some Forest Guards of the different compartments are hand-in-glow with smugglers in the district thereby facilitating the smugglers to devastate the forests of these compartments. "Timber is being ferried to the market by smugglers allegedly in connivance with these officials, although the Forest officials and the Forest Protection Force (FPF) personnel catch smugglers in various areas but set them free allegedly after taking bribe,". Ajaz Ahmad Dar a local resident of Sogam said. "Higher authorities are mute spectators to the plunder of the green gold. Influential people of the area devastate the forests in connivance with officials. They (officials) receive their share," he added.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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