Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 28: Taking advantage of ongoing unrest in Kashmir, the forest smugglers in South and North Kashmir woods have created havoc by resorting to cutting down of trees and looting of green gold.
The forest smugglers in Kath-Hallan woods, Yarwan woods and Khrew woods of South Kashmir’s Shopian and Pulwama districts have cut down scores of trees without any hesitation and official check.
Due to the ongoing unrest, the police and forest guards aren’t guarding forests and the smugglers are continuing unabated loot of the forests. An official when contacted said: “We cannot do anything as of now as the situation is extremely critical and everything has come to standstill.”
Meanwhile, in several forest areas of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district including Rajwar, Ramhal, Nutnusa, Check, Kandi and others, the timber smuggling is going unabated.
Sources said no action is being taken against the persons involved in the smuggling of timber by Forest Department. “Despite tall claims of the Government to take strict action against the forest encroachers and timber smugglers, the officials of the Forest Department don’t pay any heed to the ongoing timber smuggling in these areas,” they said.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kamraj, Muhammad Ayoub said they have also reports of timber smuggling in the forest areas falling under his jurisdiction. “Whosoever will be found involved in smuggling, strict action will be taken against him,” he said.
Chief Conservator Forest (CCF) Nisar Ahamd Darzi said due to the clampdown of cellular services, it becomes difficult for them to contact officials to look into the reports of smuggling of timber.”Despite clampdown of services, we managed to contact with the officials and deputed them to visit the spots to investigate the matter,” he added.
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