Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Feb 16 There has been a sharp rise in the felling of trees in compartment number 20 of Sogam Lolab forest range in north Kashmir’ Baramulla district, with people accusing the Forest Department of acting as mute spectators to wanton pillage of green gold.
The timber smugglers have stepped up their activities since last week and inflicted maximum damage in the area which is home to thick pine and coniferous forests. The total number of trees cut mercilessly by the smugglers could not be quantified but the devastating scenes of the forest nearly suffice the scale of loot.
Although the forest officials claimed they have ramped up the operations to arrest the trend, the locals accuse the department of shielding the officials who are involved in the act.
The locals lamented that the illegal deforestation by timber mafia is depleting the forest cover of the area rapidly and accused forest officials of being hand in glove with the timber smugglers. “A large number of trees have been cut in broad daylight. No one is able to stop them. Forest officials let everything to happen. There is a nexus between forest officials and timber smugglers”, a local said.
He said that at some places the smugglers are using the tried and tested formula wherein they would deliberately set the forest on fire and then use forest fire as an excuse to cut trees.
He further explained that the forest officials are paying huge bribes to evade transfers. “They have not been transfers for years. Sometimes they were transferred but they paid money and retained their postings”, he said.
Acting on the complaints received from locals, the forest department launched a major operation against the illegal felling of trees and lodged cases against some smugglers. “FIR has been lodged against some of the loggers. We have received information about the involvement of a few more persons and have identified them. We are on it and we will take action whoever is found guilty,” Irfan Rasool Wani, Conservator of Forests North Kashmir told Excelsior.
Asked about the allegations of shielding the officials, he said: “We have asked the Ranger to inspect the site. We will take action based on his report. A tough action will be taken if any official is found guilty,” he said.
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