Op ‘cover up’ after massive green felling in Bani forests
Gopal Sharma
KATHUA, Nov 23: A massive ‘cover up’ operation has been launched by some officials of the Forest department in remote Bani Range of Kathua district, after matter with regard to massive felling of Deodar trees by some timber smugglers in connivance with a few concerned officials was reported by local Panchayat members to the Revenue officials at Bani tehsil headquarters.
Official sources told the Excelsior that a large scale destruction has been caused to the green gold by the timber mafia in Compartments Nos. 29,30 and 31 falling in Doulka area of Bani Forest Range of Basohli Forest Division where at least 60 large green Deodar and a few other trees have been axed. These Forest compartments of Doulka block are situated closer to the Himachal–J&K border.
Sources further disclosed that the timber smugglers mostly used cutters to fell these trees and this exercise took place about 20-25 days ago. Over 80% timber was extracted on the spot and also transported while some scants/sleepers were still lying in the forest. The concerned field staff including Block Forest officer and beat guards, even went to the extent of threatening the locals and a few Panchayat members when they objected to massive green felling in their area and told them to report this matter to Tehsildar and SDM Bani. For about two weeks, the matter went unreported and when it came to the notice of Tehsildar, he asked the concerned Range Officer at Bani, Narinder Verma about the issue.
A Revenue officer at Bani quoting local Panchayat members at Doulka and Dandi villages said that about 62 large Deodar trees have been felled in these three Compartments and more 1200 sleepers reported to have been extracted from the area. They said large cutters were used in this thick Deodar forest to fell trees. He said locals of the area are demanding high level inquiry into the matter involving officers from Revenue, FPF and Crime Branch of Police.
Not only this area, sources said, another massive felling of about 35-40 Deodar trees in Koti Chandyar area was reported where a team of two Range officers from Basohli and Mahanpur was sent by the DFO Basohli, Ravinder Singh but the team returned without visiting the exact location and projected felling of just half a dozen trees, to save the real culprits and hold a probe just for ‘face saving’.
Referring to the extensive damage caused in Doulka forest area of Bani, sources in Forest department said Range Officer Bani, initiated inquiry after matter came to the notice of Tehsildar and SHO Bani besides the CID wing of the concerned police. Two Incharge Foresters Mohd Shakeel and Mohd Asif from adjoining forest blocks were deputed for the inquiry. They projected the felling of just nearly two dozen trees in the area and seizure of about 240 Deodar sleepers from the site, just to ‘down play’ the damages.
Meanwhile, interestingly under the operation ‘cover up’, the concerned Forest Guard- Shahbaz Bhat was shifted in hush- hush manner to Sarthal Forest Block from Doulka area and rather rewarded giving promotion as Incharge Block officer instead of any punishment. Even no action has been taken as yet against any of the officials including concerned Block Forester or others for the massive felling of green trees in the forest area under them and causing extensive damage to the Government property.
Sources further revealed that another Forest Guard, Yash Paul refused to take charge of the forest area due to extensive damage there sensing possible trouble for him but he was forcibly sent there in place of Shahbaz by the officers at the helm of affairs at Bani and Basohli. The DFO concerned and the Range Officers were soft peddling over the issue and claimed to have initiated inquiries into the matter, but sources in the department said that under operation cover up many left out trunks of the trees have been either removed or burnt in these compartments just to dodge any more anticipated inquiry by the top officials. They said in Doulka and Koti-Chandyar forests, timber worth more than Rs 1.20 crore has been extracted and smuggled during last one month.
Incharge Forester, Mohd Shakeel Bhat, Inquiry officer when asked about the outcome of the ‘so called’ inquiry said, he along with Block officer Mohd Asif visited the affected area in Doulka and seized 245 Deodar timber sleepers. He claimed that these sleepers were lying in the forest area. Shakeel further claimed that they traced the signs of nearly 19 recently felled Deodar trees. There may be more scants or sleepers but they could recover only 245 Deodar scants/ sleepers abandoned at 2-3 locations for further transportation by the smugglers or may be locals of the area. He said that they have submitted the report to the concerned Range Officer at Bani.
Conservator of Forests, East Circle, Jammu, B Mohan Das when contacted said he was not fully aware of both the incidents in Bani Range but has received preliminary report from the DFO Basohli regarding felling of some green trees in Compt Nos. 29, 30 and 31. He said immediate suspension of employees is also no solution. “We will hold detailed inquiry in both Doulka and Koti-Chandyar incidents where major damage has been reported.”
“No body will be spared. The employees concerned will face disciplinary action as well. Recovery proceedings will also be initiated against them. I may also personally visit the damaged areas to have on the spot assessment,” the CF Jammu East maintained.
When asked that a beat Guard of the area where damages took place was rewarded and placed as Incharge Forester in Sarthal area instead of giving him any punishment, Das said he was not aware of the matter and will take up issue with DFO concerned. Mohan Das claimed that the Forest staff from Bani Range, if found involved, will have to face action.
Commissioner/Secretary Forests, Sanjeev Verma said he has directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Mohit Gera to hold detailed inquiry involving officers from different wings of the department and submit report to the Government shortly, fixing responsibility on the concerned field staff with amount of damages caused to the Government property. Verma assured that nobody will be spared in this case and if some officials tried to shield their own employees in preliminary reports, they will also face stringent action.
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