Our State has the richest forest wealth in the Asian continent. The timber obtained from the trees of our forest is categorized as very superior. Our mountains are clad with a variety of trees each superior to the other and each forest range is more imposing and graceful than the other. Along with forests, we have s very rich wild life supported by the green forests. During the rule of the Maharajas, services of British experts in forestry were requisitioned and the entire forest department was set up on modern lines. The rules and procedures of making use of forest wealth were laid down by the British officers and they stuck to it so that it became the culture of Forest Department and other functionaries to observe those norms to the best of their ability… Each tree was marked and registered with full details. It was not possible to cut a single unauthorized tree.
There is a world of difference between the days of autocratic rule and the populist rule that we have now in regard to protection and preservation of our forest wealth. After the induction of populist rule in 1947, our forest wealth has been subjected to loot and wanton destruction by self-seekers with protection from political class. Protecting and preserving the existing forests is of immense importance but this is not the realization with those who are supposed to protect our forest wealth. During the height of militancy in Kashmir, when law and order had broken down, miscreants and gun wielding goons had not an iota of compassion to spare the forest wealth from wanton destruction. A deodar tree is reported to have been auctioned by a gun wielding youth for two hundred rupees and guarantee from the militants that they would ensure safe passage of timber to the towns or the city. Forest Department has not maintained any record of wholesale destruction of forests during two decades of turmoil and disorder.
Seizure of 1300 timber sleepers of deodar and kail in Mahore of Reasi district has opened the Pandora’s box to unveil the crores of rupees worth scam in the Forest Department. 1300 sleepers is not a small amount of money. Who knows in whose pockets this enormous money would have gone if the revelation was not made. From the details of this theft that have trickled down, it is concluded that a strong timber mafia is at work in our State. Not only that, even local Sarpanch and Pinch’s and prominent persons of the locality are also involved. How sad that the police and vigilance agencies have not been able to lay their hand on the timber smugglers and bust the mafia that has been stealing Government property with impunity. No smuggling of forest wealth is possible without the connivance of insiders. We wonder what the Enforcement Department is doing. Are they not responsible to ask and enquire how come a forest guard or a forester or officers of higher ranks have been able to raise properties disproportionate to their income?
It has been found that some officials were placed in the ranges where timber mafia was active for more than 5-6 years and they were enjoying higher posts being very junior with some political patronage. Obviously, all evil flows from political patronage of mafia men and the functionaries of the Forest Department. We know that many functionaries including officers concerned have been placed under suspension and cases will be registered against them. For how many years the prosecution of the culprit will drag on is anybody’s guess. And what will come out of it at the end of the day, too, is a matter of speculation. The crucial point in this affair is the misuse of power, authority and influence by the politicians who are ruling the roost. We would like to know from the Government what measures it can suggest in curbing the interference of politicians in these clandestine matters that go in contravention of the law of the land. Will corruption and mafia activities come to an end with handing out punitive punishment to the smugglers? We have many doubts. In the past also, law came into motion, smugglers were apprehended and prosecuted. Yet timber smuggling did not stop rather increased. We suggest that the Government shall have to take recourse to stringent legislation so that any political figure involved in misuse of his power and influence is denuded of authority and power. Until that happens, timber mafia will go on making hey.
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