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| Smuggling of Forest produce at peak in Lakhanpur, vehicles go unchecked | | |  Arun Trisal
Early Times Report
Kathua, Aug 23: The BJP crusade of saving forests gets exploded at Lakhanpur Forest Post where smuggling of forest produce has assumed alarming proportions. Allegations of allowing vehicles to move out of the state freely without any check have also been received.
Many such vehicles were later on seized after cry or by Excise department, Lakhanpur.
It is relevant to mention here that the employees just fill the Form 25 meant for permission to transport Forest produces and never check the vehicles practically.
It is an official-contractor nexus at work at the check post.
As per sources, Divisional Forest Officer, DFO Kathua is fully aware of the menace and reportedly gets duly compensated for allowing the vehicles unchecked.
The menace came into limelight when Excise department seized a truck and recovered 22 extra bags of herbs (Nag Chhatri-Warch mirtha) from truck bearing registration number JK09A 2222 that was duly allowed by Forest Check Post Lakhanpur. The truck had permission of 40 bags of Nag Chatri under Form No.25 dated 07.08.2015 at 6pm but loaded 22 extra bags from Srinagar, crossed Forest check posts Pantha Chowk, Lower Munda, Udhampur and Lakhanpur. Ironically, each check post allowed the vehicle unchecked and Forest Check Post Lakhanpur that has special permission under Forests Act for checking the vehicles also closed it eyes.
The vehicle reached Lakhanpur on 09.08.2015 and duly allowed by Forest Range Officer Munish Gupta on 8:15 am. Source said DFO Kathua ordered the RFO to do so.
Similar incident was reported on August 07 when two Lorries loaded with imported timber entered the state without legal permission from Lakhanpur Check post. People informed the DFO who had to take superficial action and seized the vehicles being unloaded at Govindsar, 10 km inside the J&K state from Lakhanpur Forest Check post.
When ET approached to RFO Lakhanpur, he made several excuses about illegal entry of imported timber.
Locals used to highlight illegal smuggling of Forest produce from Lakhanpur under the nose of DFO Kathua who allegedly involved in the menace during previous incidents.
JK Forest Minister Bali Bhagat who never visited Lakhanpur just talks from Jammu and Srinagar. |
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