Massive green felling in Mahore forests
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 28: The Government has suspended a Range Officer (RO) and attached Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Mahore, in connection with massive green felling in Gulabgarh area of Mahore Forest Division of Jammu region.
Official sources said that on the basis of preliminary report of the Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, DFO, Mahore, Mohinder Singh (ACF) has been attached to the office of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, J&K, pending inquiry, in connection with the massive damage caused in the Forest Compartment No. 76 GG of Tulli Beat and Compt No.81 GG of Banna Block with immediate effect.
Sanjay Gupta, ACF, attached in the office of PCCF, J&K, will hold the charge of Mahore Forest Division in addition to his own duties till further orders.
Meanwhile, the Government suspended Range Officer Mahore, Prince Gupta in connection with the massive green felling in Compt No. 76 GG and 81 GG of Mahore Forest Division, pending inquiry, initiated by four- member team, headed by Conservator of Forests East Circle Jammu, B Mohan Dass.
He has been directed to report to the office of Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu till further orders. Sagar Singh, I/C Range Officer Soil Conservation Range Mahore has been given additional charge of the Mahore Forest Range.
It is pertinent to mention here that a Block Forest Officer (Forester), Inderjeet Singh, and two Beat Guards- Bunty Rana and Bachan Kishore have already been placed under suspended in this connection.
Sources further added that action was taken by the Government after some videos of massive green felling including over 50-60 large/medium trees of Deodar, Koil and `Tung’ went viral. The matter came to the notice of Sub Divisional Administration at Mahore and District Administration Reasi besides senior Forest officials, who immediately rushed teams to Tuli Bana area of Chassana, falling under Forest Compartment No. 76/ GG and 81/ GG for the preliminary inquiry.