| DFO suspends forest official for timber damage in Dachhan forests | | Pay of 2 employees withheld, explanation sought from Range Officer | | Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 20: Taking strong note of damage and sale of illicit timber by forest official-smuggler nexus in remote areas of Kishtwar District, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Marwah placed an employee of the department under suspension.
As per the order issued by Viyaj Kumar, DFO Marwah addressed to the Conservator of Forests, Chenab Circle, Doda, on 18-01-2019 received a telephonic call from a reliable source regarding forest damage in Compartment No. 30h in Sounder forest beat of Block Dachhan forest range and accordingly directed adjoining beat officers to rush up to the spot adding that following the instruction, the team visited the spot and found forest damage in the form of Kail Green Trees of 60-70 CM and 80-90 CM diameter.
The team after finding the damages seized timber volume of 348.77 CFT timber of different dimensions.
On the bases of the report submitted by the visiting team, DFO Marwah placed Som Nath, I/C beat Guard Sounder under immediate suspension beside also found the casual attitude and carelessness working on government duty of I/C Range Officer Dachhan Azad Hussain, I/C Beat Officer Noor Mohammad, Senior Forest Guard.
DFO Marwah also relieve Noor Mohammad from the duty of I/C Beat Officer and attached him in the office of Chief Conservator of Doda. He also order the withholding of the pay of both Beat Officer and I/C Range Officer Dachhan beside this I/C range Officer Dachhan Azad Hussain has been asked to explain his position as to why further action could not be initiated against him.
DFO Marwah also constituted a committee headed by Assistant Director Forest Protection Force Kishtwar vide No. 19-24/DC/MFD Dated 18-01-2019 who has been asked to submit the detail report separately.
Speaking to "Early Times" the local Sarpanch informed that forest of Dachhan has become vulnerable to forest smugglers as the government has fail to provide timber to the needy people on time added that the people has been ask to fulfill several formalities for availing the timber officially while the forest officials- Forest Smugglers nexus is growing with each passing day and called for constitution of high level committee to probe into the huge smuggling of timber not only in Dachhan area, but also in areas falling in and around Kishtwar town like Thakrie, Kalamsatar, Poochal, Putinag, Hullar, Dool, Pullar and other areas beside also call up the government to ease out the formalities so that people could take the benefits of purchasing the timber legal instead of going for the same through Forest Officials- Forest Smuggler nexus. |
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