Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: While the Government constituted two Special Investigation Teams (SITs) to probe Khairwood scandal worth crores in Kathua and Samba districts, the Forest teams conducted inspection in two Khairwood units in district Jammu today.
IGP Jammu, SD Singh said that two separate SITs have been constituted to conduct thorough investigation in the case pertaining to excess felling of Khair trees and dumping of massive Khair wood in the factory premises, beyond the prescribed limit.
Replying to a question, the IGP said that Additional SP Atul Sharma is heading the SIT constituted for Samba while ASP Sanjay Parihar, is leading the Kathua SIT. They will submit the report after completion of investigations in a stipulated time frame. He said a limit of Khairwood has been fixed for all the units but even ten times more volume of felled costly Khairwood has been found in some units. He said the scrutiny of the record was going on.
Meanwhile, sources said that joint team of Territorial Forest and Forest Protection Force led by a DFO today conducted inspection in two Khairwood units located in Akhnoor and Marh areas of district Jammu today. The team which started its task in the morning carried out operation till evening. Excess volume of Khairwood was detected in these units. The senior Forest officials, however, remained tight lipped over the matter.
IGP Jammu and the SSP when contacted said that their officers were not part of the operational team. “The Forest officers must have carried out operation on their own in Jammu today,” they maintained.
Meanwhile, the Forest Department today issued order with regard to transportation of Khairwood felled on private land outside the state with instructions to the Forest officers to facilitate the farmers who want to sell it outside the state at their will to get good benefit of their crop.
Sources said that the farmers were being made to sell Khairwood at throw away price to the selective units and they were not being allowed to sell their produce outside the state where they could get handsome amount. A few farmers alleged that they were paying money ranging from Rs 5000 to concerned officers to get Farm 25 and Revenue officers were being paid at the rate of Rs 250 per tree.
Under such circumstances they were made to sell their good just for Rs 800 or Rs 900 per Cubic meter while the rate in Punjab is Rs 3500 and in other states even Rs 4500 to Rs 5000.
A local politician had made monopoly for his business interests and officers were dancing on his tune and blackmailing the farmers. A big nexus has been operating this illegal trade in sheer violation of apex court guidelines, they alleged.
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