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| Loot-Khasoot of J&K forests | | Who would stem the rot? | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Sept 3: Who would put curbs on the timber mafia operating in league with officials of state forest department in Jammu and Kashmir is a million dollar question. Like his predecessors, Forest Minister Mian Altaf too has obliquely expressed his helplessness in putting curbs on this mafia.
Ironically, while minister talked about taking stringent measures to curb the timber mafia, he failed to make a mention of the fate of officers who under his very noose, despite being knee deep in corruption, are enjoying prize postings. They have proven cases of timber loot against them but their influence and regional affinities has prevented their prosecution and instead, they are enjoying prize postings.
Sources in the forest secretariat said that senior officer's have repeatedly informed the minister about timber mafia managing posting of DFOs and rangers in the most sensitive Pir Panjal Division. They added that a DFO was prematurely transferred just because he ignored an influential politician's orders and dismantled the illegal sawmills of three of his relatives in Budgam district.
Moreover, sources said that department is yet to seek answer from the officers about felling of scores of conifer trees in compartment No: 66 of Gogaldara Block in Gulmarg Range besides inquiring into the massive damage caused to some specific compartments in Lidder Division of Anantnag district.
Reliable sources said that goaded by the inability of Jammu and Kashmir government failure to deal with timber mafia, a senior officer of forest department has prepared a white paper and put entire blame of timber smuggling on the rangers and DFO's of various ranges.
Citing instances, the officer has in his paper made a mention of frequent transfers of range officers and DFOs, attributing it to their connections in higher echelons of power. They added that the officer has while referring to fire incidents said that around 104 square kilometres forest area has been gutted causing loss of several crores of rupees to the state forest department.
"50 percent of the fires were caused intentionally mainly with the objective of encroaching upon the land and cover-up the loot and plunder of the green gold. The remaining 50 percent fire incidents have taken place because of carelessness of the officials of forest department," the officer has reportedly stated in his paper.
The officer in his white paper has said that a Range Officer of Gulmarg, who was placed under suspension for his alleged involvement in timber smuggling not only managed his reinstatement but was also been rewarded with a training course. "He has cases against him which are being probed. Yet he is being sent on one training programme after another for the reasons best known to the administration," the officer has written.
Talking about the Chenab circle, the officer has in his paper put the blame of plunder of forest wealth on the nexus between DFOs, Range Officers and some timber contractors belonging to Jammu and Doda region. He has even gone to the extent of saying that "All these are much more powerful that the entire cabinet of Jammu and Kashmir."
Sources said that the well-drafted white paper on the Jammu and Kashmir forests which is spread over 300 pages has also made a mention of a senior IAS officer who managed posting of a DFO in Chenab circle for helping his relatives dealing in timber without the knowledge of the minister incharge.
Interestingly, the officer has pointed out that mass transfers and postings of officers are done on the basis of their regional affinities. "Those from Jammu and Kashmir are being discriminated when it comes to postings. They usually get second preference on every issue," the official has written in his paper. Sources said that the officer would be submitting this white paper to the Forest Minister within a month's time.
"It's a veritable big mafia, completely intact even after the Kundal probe. It has become a huge, lucrative business for well-connected people. Until we take a major initiative, it's not going to break", said an officer of the forest secretariat. He added that timber smuggling has been state's biggest problem. "Our forests are denuded with impunity and there's a lot of political intervention from several quarters," added the official. |
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