Excelsior Correspondent
Bhadarwah, Apr 8: The fifteen-day lockdown has seen spurt in damage to the otherwise rich coniferous forest of Bhadarwah Forest Division (BFD) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, as mafia seems to be taking advantage of the situation arisen due to Coronavirus outbreak with officials reporting more than a dozen cases on Tuesday alone even as the department along with Police has stepped up efforts to contain such incidents amid the COVID-19 crisis.
According to official reports 1286.9 cft (cubic feet) of timber extracted illegally from green cedars and pine trees and 9 heavy mechanical diesel cutters have been seized alone from Tanta Panchayat in Chirala Range of BFD. 10 cases have been registered so for, while 14 culprits booked beside 14 saw mills have been sealed in Neeru Range and two smugglers have been arrested in last 4 days.
DFO Bhadarwah Chander Shekhar expressed concern about the increasing deforestation surrounding urban areas. “We have verified the incidents and found that people are taking advantage of the lack of movement during the lockdown to steal the forest wealth and use diesel cutters which inflict maximum damage in minimum time. As during the lockdown, officials and staffers of the department could not move and miscreants see an opportunity in this”, he added.
He stated that the department has requested the JKP and FPP (Forest Protection Police) to help fight forest mafia. “They have readily assured us full support and we have already started joint operations”, the officer asserted.
The officer stated that the night patrolling has been intensified as a result, last night two smugglers who were stealing timber scants from Divisional office Bhadarwah were nabbed by the vigilant staff and handed over to police.
“To tighten the noose against the forest mafia, I along with SP Bhadarwah Raj Singh Gouria and Deputy Director FPP Mohinder Thakur raided Tanta and Trainkal Panchayats of Chirala Range and seized 9 mechanical diesel cutters which are illegal to use”, DFO said, adding that a dozier has been also made against the habitual offenders and who are taking advantage of the lockdown and they will be soon booked under PSA.
The arrested smugglers have been identified as Safdar Hussain of Domail and Sajjad Hussain of Doda.
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