Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 27: Over 5 month long unrest in Kashmir valley had virtually given ‘free hand’ to the timber smugglers and other unscrupulous elements to indulge in plunder of green wealth of the State.
This can be gauged from the written reply furnished by the Minister for Forest and Environment to National Conference MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar in the Legislative Assembly today mentioning that in the initial stages of un-rest, unscrupulous elements in the society tried to lay hands on the forests.
He, however, claimed that the department took immediate steps to stop illegal activities and despite restrictions the functionaries of the department worked in the field to guard the forest wealth.
Though the forest protection in itself was a big challenge, the control rooms remained functional to take cognizance of the complaints and wherever information regarding damages to forests or commissioning of forest offences were received timely cognizance was taken under law, the Forest Minister further said.
He disclosed that 221 FIRs were lodged for various forest offences against 1265 culprits and 37 dossiers were submitted to the District Magistrates against which 11 detention orders were passed. Similarly, eight persons were detained under Public Safety Act for repeated forest offences.
Giving further details, the Minister said that 12256 cubic feet of timber, 37 vehicles and 86 horses/ponies were seized by the Forest Department. “Wherever it was found that in time cognizance was not taken by the officers and officials of the Forest Department required action was taken against them also”, he added.
He further disclosed that a total of 75 officials of the Forest Department including 6 Foresters, 6 Deputy Foresters, 25 Forest Guards and 38 other employees were placed under suspension for dereliction of duties and an amount of Rs 4,28,339 was recovered from them.
About the steps taken to protect and conserve the green gold and rare species of wild animals besides plantation of various varieties of plants at affected areas, the Minister said, “the forest damages which took place during the unrest period were not of that magnitude in a particular area which could require separate intervention in respect of reforestation or conservation of wild animals”.
“The department, however, is well equipped with network of nurseries where indigenous conifers, fruit trees and medical plants have been raised for plantation in demarcated areas as per availability of funds”, he said, adding “the department is also undertaking afforestation works by planting variety of species under various schemes with one of its main objective to conserve the green gold and other creatures living therein”.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel