Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 22: The Khair-wood trade in Kandi belt of Jammu region is facing Government apathy despite the fact that Supreme Court of India has lifted the ban on felling of ‘green- Khair’ trees after 20 years.
With the blanket ban on the felling of Khair trees by the Supreme Court of India the farmers of the Kandi belt of Kathua, Samba, Jammu and parts of Udhampur, Reasi and Rajouri districts where left to face lot of economic crisis as in the absence of irrigation facilities, the Agriculture produce in this entire belt is dependent on the seasons rains. So, they had to mainly depend on the alternative tree plantations in their fields which can provide them means of livelihood.
A Supreme Court Bench comprising Justice A K Patnaik, Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar and Justice Ranjan Gagoi while delivering the land mark judgment in a case titled ‘Environment Awareness Forum versus State of Jammu and Kashmir & others’, dated 16-9-2013; lifted the ban on the felling of Khair trees from non-forest areas in J&K.
The court observed that the felling of Khair trees from the non-forest areas associated with the development projects undertaken in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and also from the forest areas for which necessary approval under the Jammu and Kashmir Forest ( Conservation) Act, 1990 have been accorded, will be permissible. The court also directed that the felling of Khair trees in the J&K State is therefore, allowed subject to the conditions stipulated in Para 45 of the report of the Central Empowered Committee.
A former senior Forest Officer M J Sharma heading an NGO- People’s Orgnisation for Welfare and Environment Reconstruction (POWER) said that green gold in the form of Khair trees worth over Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore in the Kandi belt of Jammu region has been allowed to be damaged by the authorities at the helm of affairs. It has also added to the economic crisis for the Kandi farmers. He said their NGO is against felling of green trees but the full grown trees of Khair in private land if not felled and fully utilized for human consumption will go waste.
Mr Sharma said that felling of green trees in forest areas is totally banned but farmers who have planted Khair on their private land as medicinal plants should be allowed to fell to meet their daily requirements. There is no agriculture activity in Kandi belt and people are mainly dependent on plantation of bamboo, Khair or other trees. The Kandi farmers are facing lot of financial crisis.
He said this activity in bordering Himachal State and even in Uttarakhand is going on without restrictions. The J&K Government must frame a definite policy like HP and issue necessary notification without any more delay. He disclosed that Khair is basically a medicinal plant and is used in making anti-biotic drugs by Pharma companies and other life saving drugs, in leather industry and also in ‘Pan’, which is liked by many people in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, MP and other States. One full grown tree may cost around Rs 3000 and a large number of Kandi farmers are waiting for the necessary notification in this regard.
Sarpanch Satoora, Bhagmal and from Dinga Amb Panchayat- Kuldeep Gupta of district Kathua said that many farmers of this Kandi belt have Khair trees in their private land. Many of them are aging now. If they were not felled in time, the precious wood will go waste and the farmers will suffer huge losses. They said since apex court has allowed permission, we are unable to understand why Revenue Department is taking so much of time to issue notification.
Two years back, the Supreme Court lifted ban and Govt is sleeping over the issue despite the fact that several deputations met former DyCM Dr Nirmal Singh, PCCF and CCF Jammu besides Divisional Commissioner Jammu. Former Sarpanch Jasrota, Jagdish Singh Jasrotia and Sarpanch Seinswan Yogesh Kumar said that extraction of Khair is connected with the economy of Kandi belt farmers. The leaders from Kathua and Jammu Lal Singh, Dr Nirmal Singh, Bali Bhagat and others should come out for supporting Kandi farmers.
They said about half a dozen ‘Katha’ units/ factories were forced to wind up activities due to non-supply of raw material from Khair trees during last two decades. About 10,000 people were directly or indirectly connected with this Khair trade worth over Rs 400 crore annually in the area.
Even people from Kashmir and parts of Doda, Ramban, Poonch and Rajouri used to work in felling trees, extraction of `Katha’ and performing other activities in `Katha- Bhathis’ in Kathua, Samba, Billawar, Jasrota, Basohli, Jammu and Akhnoor areas during winter months. With the restoration of activities, the Kandi people would be able to raise their economic condition.
Chief Conservator of Forests Jammu, Roshan Jaggi when contacted said that felling of Khair trees was banned in the J&K State in 1996 by the Supreme Court. Several NGOs then moved to the court. The case was drawn long and ultimately, on the directions of apex court an extensive survey was conducted involving members of Central Empowered Committee. Some experts from Himalyan Institute Dehradun were also involved. The team extensively visited Kathua, Samba and Jammu areas and they also spoke to the Kandi farmers and Forest officers besides several Panchayat members. The Kandi farmers also conveyed their concern that this tree was connected with their livelihood/ economy.
After this extensive survey, the Central Empowered Committee recommended some guidelines with regard to the felling of trees in systematic manner, re-plantation in the area cleared, thickness of the stem of the tree to be felled, non-felling of pre-mature trees, putting further restriction of felling in that area for some time etc. Under Para 45 several such guidelines have been mentioned.
The CCF said that since the felling has been allowed in the non-forest area, the State Revenue authorities have to issue notification. So this process is awaited for the last over one and half year. As and when notification is issued by the Revenue Secretary, the process will be commenced. He said many farmers from different Panchayats of Kathua, Samba and Jammu are approaching their offices for grant of permission. He said there will be role of both concerned DFOs and Tehsildars for extraction of Khair wood and its further transportation to the industrial units.
Secretary, Revenue Mohd Afzal when contacted said that during previous tenure when he was Secretary Forest, he had forwarded the proposal to the Revenue department for issuance of necessary notification in this regard after Supreme Court lifted the ban on Khair trees with some observations. Mr Afzal said that the file remained lying unattended and after he was shifted to Revenue department he again took up the case and then sent to General Department. The then Chief Minister with some observations sent back the file. Since felling pertains to non-Forest area, the Revenue authorities will have the major role than the concerned DFOs.
Mr Azfal said that two weeks back the file was put up before the Chief Secretary B R Sharma who has given some fresh instructions and the file is now lying with the Law department. He said that notification will be issued as and when the file is cleared. It may take one month or even less, it depends how fast the decisions area taken, Mr Afzal maintained.
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