Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 30: In a rampant loot of green gold, dozens of trees have been cut down in the woods of Kandi in Sopore of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district with officials on ground allegedly watching like mute spectators.
Reports said that there is rampant loot of green gold underway in Rampisham and Rajpora areas of Kamraaj Forest Division in Kandi. They said that dozens of trees have been cut down by forest mafia in the compartment number 29, 30 and 31 “as there is no check” by the employees of Forest Department on ground.
Kandi, 17 kilometers away from Sopore Town, has been a traditional stronghold of forest mafia and is a vulnerable place in terms of loot of green gold. Besides axing down the trees, the timber smugglers have set the roots of the trees on fire to cease their growth.
Meanwhile, some locals alleged that the concerned officials are scared of the forest smugglers and they always stay away whenever the trees are cut down. “They don’t bother to stop them and watch like mute spectators. They fear attacks as the area is dangerous,” the locals said.
Denying that there has been any loot of the green gold over the past few days, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) said that he received similar complaints but there was no such thing. “Based on the complaints, we constituted a team of Forest Protection Force and the team consisted of nearly 40 officials. We asked them to search all compartments but they have communicated to me that there has been no loot,” the DFO said.
He however admitted that “some” trees have fallen down but blamed snowfall and winds. “We have brought down the smuggling completely after our hard efforts. Still, we have controlled the situation and over the past few years we have booked hundreds in smuggling cases. We have even reached to those places where police hesitates due to topography and vulnerability of Kandi,” he said.
The Chief Forest Conservator (CFO) Nissar Ahmad Darzi while assuring of action, said he received similar complaints. “Kandi area has been traditionally vulnerable with chequered history but we have now controlled it to a large extent. Yesterday I received a similar complaint and I referred it to the Forest Protection Force. We will surely take action,” he said.
When asked about the allegations regarding the inaction of local employees, he said: “if there is lack of commitment on part of our staff then we will also take action.” He said the “occasional incidents” of crime happen at some places but the action is taken. “You have brought into my notice and it is my responsibility to take the action,” the CFO added.
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