S Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report
Bandipora, Sept 28: The wanton loot of forests continues unabated in various parts of Bandipora district in north Kashmir.
Taking advantage of unrest in Kashmir valley, the timber smugglers have chopped off scores of green trees in the recent past and dumped them at various unknown places. scores of green treed were seen chopped off in many villages of Bandipora and Gurez tehsils like Dawar, Khandiyal, Gujran, Bariana, Saradab, Markoot, Quilmuqam, Aloosa and other nearby forests of far flung villages of Bandipora district, sources told Early Times.
Sources said that the timber smugglers have taken due advantage of the ongoing unrest in the valley from past two and half months, as the forest officials are afraid of visiting the forest areas. "This is not the first time when green trees were cut , but smuggling has registered an alarming increased. We were surprised to see scores of green trees on Bandsaw depots in Gurez tehsil. Smugglers had chopped off these trees for the purpose of smuggling, and we are helpless in the present situation as nobody wants to get exposed, sources informed.
sources alleged that due to callous attitude of forest department, it seems that some of the employees of forest department are hand in glove with smugglers.
Such type of smuggling was never seen from past many years as it is happening only from last few months, adding that various dry trees had also been set on fire for charcoal purposes and the concerned department is turning a blind eye to these incidents which is very unfortunate on part of them, sources added. |
