Wanton loot of forests

Sir,
This refers to wanton loot of forests in Baramulla (Excelsior editorial 17/9/2018) . The loot of forests by the state and not state actors is not at all coming to halt. Earlier the forests were plundered by timber smugglers, but now all this loot is done officially.
Very recently hundreds of green forest trees were axed by Corporation employees in Kangan. The photos went viral on social media and even this paper has filed a report on the issue. In Pir Panjaal forests of Budgam , Shopian and Poonch more than 45000 forest trees (kail, fir and deodar) were axed by a private power transmission company NRSS 29 and Sterlite Power. The compensation paid to Forest department seems to be very meager and this needs a thorough investigation.
Our State is losing forest cover at a very alarming rate. State Forest Advisory Committee must be held accountable for giving permissions to axe such a large number of forest trees across state. The said committee from last two decades has given permission for felling of hundreds and thousands of forest trees in Kishtwar , Doda , Rajouri , Poonch , Budgam , Anantnag , Gabderbal and Baramulla forests. Now enough is enough , let Govt stop these felling of trees for clearing the way for so called developmental projects
Fozia Kounser
Srinagar

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