Illegal felling of over 100 conifer trees in Doda
*Notices issued for filing detailed response
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 20: Taking suo-moto cognizance of the report regarding illegal felling of over 100 conifer trees in Doda district, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has impleaded Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) J&K, Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and Deputy Magistrate (DM) Doda as respondents and issued them separate notices for filing detailed response before next date of hearing.
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In the edition dated November 27, 2024, the Excelsior had reported that more than 100 conifer trees were found illegally axed in a forest area in Doda district prompting the Forest Department to launch a probe to bring the culprits to book.
While exercising the power to take suo-moto cognizance as recognized by the Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai Versus Ankita Sinha and Others”, the NGT registered Original Application (OA) on the basis of the news-item.
Accordingly, a bench of the Tribunal comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and Dr A Senthil Vel (Expert Member) observed, “the matter relates to 77 cases of illegal felling of conifer trees, involving the cutting down of more than 100 trees in the Tanta forest area of the Chirala near Bhaderwah in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory”.
“As per the article, locals are concerned about the unabated smuggling of forest wealth in the area. The article further highlights that the locals and environmentalists accompanied a team of media persons to the forest area where the coniferous trees including Cedar, Kail and Fir were found cut down by smugglers at the Mona Nullah in Compartment Number Three”, the NGT said, adding “it is further reported that the investigation teams have seized vehicles loaded with illicit timber and banned mechanical cutters”.
“The news item attracts the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as it raises substantial issues relating to compliance with the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment”, the NGT said.
Accordingly, the Tribunal has impleaded Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu & Kashmir, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Regional Office, Jammu & Kashmir and District Magistrate Doda as respondents.
“Issue notice to these respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the Tribunal at least one week before the next hearing date. If any respondent directly files the reply without routing it through his advocate, then the respondent will remain virtually present to assist the Tribunal”, read the order of NGT, the copy of which is available with Excelsior.
The Conservator of Forests, Chenab Circle, while confirming that 77 cases involving the felling of more than 100 trees in the Tanta forest area of the Chirala range came to their notice, had told the media that investigation has been started.
“On getting information about large-scale felling of trees at Tanta, which is notorious for smuggling, four investigation teams were formed and sent to the forest area leading to vehicles loaded with illicit timber being seized”, the officer had conveyed.
Though FIR has been registered yet the Forest Department has already sought assistance from police and other agencies to check smuggling. “There is possibility of probable nexus between forest officials and smugglers as such the locals as well as environmentalists have sought stern action against the guilty in accordance with rules”, sources said and stressed that combined efforts are required to be made to prevent loot of forest wealth not only in Doda but in other parts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
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