Conservator Forests Chenab Valley Circle assures strict action
Imran Shah
KISHTWAR, Oct 7: At a time when the J&K government is claiming to maintain a tight vigil to preserve the forest cover that has already suffered huge damages during the last three decades of conflict, timber smugglers are on a spree in various forest compartments in Chenab Valley circle causing tremendous loses to the green gold.
A video received by the Kashmir Despatch shows extremely disappointing visuals of green felling in compartment number 14 and 15 at Bonjwah area in tehsil and district Kishtwar. The video can be watched on Kashmir Despatch’s YouTube channel.
Sources told Kashmir Despatch that over 150 conifers have been chopped down in the high altitude areas of these two compartments by the smugglers allegedly in connivance with the field staff of the forest department.
On the contrary the locals in this area alleged that the field staff of the forest department prohibit them from fetching firewood from the nearby forest unless they pay around Rs 200 to Rs 1000 per family. “My grandmother died last week. We required firewood at home. When I requested the concerned forest guard, he clearly asked for money in lieu of permission to fetch some firewood which was direly needed at my home because of the large number of mourners coming to my residence,” said a local pleading for anonymity.
When contacted, DFO Kishtwar Sagar Singh told Kashmir Despatch: “I will constitute an inquiry into the matter. Last month imposed a fine of Rs 1 Lacs on my field staff for the dereliction of duty. The money was recovered in lieu of some damages incurred in a forest compartment in Nagni block that touches Bhadarwah boundary. We will not spare any of the field staff that is found involved in these incidents. Let me verify it from the field staff first.”
The DFO added that he will depute a team to the Bonjwah block to verify the complaint of green felling.
Meanwhile, when contacted Satpal Pakhru, IFS, Conservator Forests Chenab Valley circle told Kashmir Despatch: “I know Bonjwah block is a little problematic zone. We have deployed extra staff from the forest protection force and territorial staff there. Last time we took strict action in a few cases wherein we also detained some people with the help of police.”
He added: “In some cases we took departmental action against some of our staff. So the hostility among the people in that area is expected. Last time some structure was raised under the garb of religion and we took some serious action without any considerations. That can be one of the factors why some locals must be estranged.”
On the video that is in possession of Kashmir Despatch, the conservator forests assured that a stern action would be taken if anybody from the department is found involved in green felling. “As far as the allegations regarding charging money in lieu of firewood is concerned, let me tell you that such allegations are baseless.”
