Illegal deforestation, serious threat to state economy as well as ecological imbalance

Jammu and Kashmir State which is praised for its greenery
and thick forest attract lots of national and international Tourists who visit
here and give boost to our state economy; also generate multidimensional public
sector employment among 69.7% un-employed youths in Jammu province and 29% un-employed
youth in Kashmir province. The Black Gold in shape of Black Cedar ( Deodar)
which in this country is available only in Bhaderwah range hills after
Germany in the world , also help to
maintain ecological balance and rises ample revenue to the state treasury.


Most
astonishingly the negative role of administration particularly the forest
department from top to bottom is bent upon to fritter these forests to fulfill
their vested interests. They are blamed to be accompliced with the forest destruction elements and are
such impudent that even when any agency highlights such issues by providing
legitimate solid proof even then they hesitate to take any action . They rather
exert to relegate such ruffianage.
In a
recent example of this kind, when a Media team along with social activists exposed
illegal forest cutting in compartment No. 66 Nerru range of forest Division
Bhaderwah where more than 40 Cedar (DEVDAR)
and Pine trees were swiped
illegally without any permission in few days, insisted to book all those persons
involved in this scandal in a nexus with department. After collecting all kinds
of proofs and taking photographs of this mass illegal cutting they approached
SDM Bhaderwah and requested him to visit the spot where this illegal tree felling
was done.
SDM Bhaderwah instead of Calling Police informed DFO Bhaderwah and they jointly examine the spot.. After that DFO constituted departmental enquiry committee and concerned Guard was suspended merely to eye wash .Like a Scapegoat giving way to the high level officers actually involved in this heinous crime. Taking advantage of these latches the corrupt officials with the help of timbers smugglers tried to erase evidences by burning the stems and also enrooting the stems from the ground levels. The team has taken these photographs also.
SDM Bhaderwah instead of Calling Police informed DFO Bhaderwah and they jointly examine the spot.. After that DFO constituted departmental enquiry committee and concerned Guard was suspended merely to eye wash .Like a Scapegoat giving way to the high level officers actually involved in this heinous crime. Taking advantage of these latches the corrupt officials with the help of timbers smugglers tried to erase evidences by burning the stems and also enrooting the stems from the ground levels. The team has taken these photographs also.
It thus
becomes imperative to investigate such incidence in right perspective so that
the account ability could be framed against the real culprits and our forests
could be saved from any further destruction. It should also be considered that
this illegal cutting has been exposed on road side only four Kilometers away
from forest office. The investigation team claim that without security they
cannot dare to go into deep forests where on large scale, the illegal green felling
is in progress.
Similar
case has been detected in forest block Duggi Kansar area in Bhaderwah valley
where almost more than young green 200 Cedar and Pine trees has been cutted
illegally and both public and forest employees blame each other for it. High
level enquiry committee is needed to constituted to investigate all such
matters in a fare manner so that truth may come out and culprits be got booked.
So that the precious wealth of the nation can be saved. ( Story by / Mansoor Qadir-Bhaderwah)
Comments