Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 3: The people of temple city have expressed strong resentment against the State Forest Department over the shortage of fire wood at Channi Himmat, Shastri Nagar and Shakti Nagar cremation grounds of Jammu city.
Reports said that this shortage of fire wood is being faced at these cremation grounds for the last about one week. The people of Sewa Samiti connected with the arrangement / performance of last rites of the deceased persons claimed that they have deposited advance money with the Divisional Forest Office, Jammu but they have failed to provide fire wood for making pyre of those dead.
The matter reached to such an extent today when a female member of the Ghai family of sector G, Sainik Colony was denied fire wood at Channi Himmat Cremation Ground this afternoon. The members of the funeral procession were shocked to know that the Forest firewood outlet had gone dry. There was no fire-wood at the cremation ground at all.
Col Sethi from sector G of Sainik Colony and a social activist Rakesh Kumar alias Bablu from the same area contacted Shastri Nagar Cremation Ground but the people there also refused to provide fire wood on the plea that they had just a few quintals of wood left with them. After repeated requests they provide some fire-wood while rest they managed from a saw mill and a private fire wood outlet (Tal) in Gangyal area and performed the last rites of the deceased person. It delayed the performance of last rites of the body.
Reports said that similar problem is being faced at Shakti Nagar and some other cremation grounds in the city. At Jogi Gate they had some fire wood for a few days. There is strong resentment among the people from one community against the State Forest department. They alleged that it has never happened in the past.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, Roshan Jaggi when contacted said that this matter about dry shortage of firewood at Shakti Nagar cremation ground came to his notice during the day. Some body called and conveyed him on phone. He said DFO Jammu did not report him about the matter. He assured to hold inquiry into the lapse on the part of junior officers. Jaggi claimed that from tomorrow, all the cremation grounds of Jammu city will be provide adequate fire-wood and this problem will be resolved.
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