 S Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report
BUDGAM, May 20: The wanton loot of forests goes on unabated in some forests of Budgam district as the timber is being supplied in between Tarawee and Sehri time, and the same is being ferried to sale in many parts of Kashmir division.
Taking advantage of Ramdhan, the timber smugglers chop off the green trees with impunity and the same timber is being supplied by the mafia to some of the areas in Budgam and Srinagar districts, sources informed early times.
They said that, the timber smugglers have taken due advantage of the ongoing month of fasting (Ramdhan) as they knew that most of the people including forest employees are remain busy with prayers and hardly visit of the forest areas.
According to them, there are some of the areas in Budgam district where a massive scale of green forests were chopped off including in Doodpathri, Diskhal,Yousmarag, Khag, Tangnar, Mujpathri, Palmaidan, and Pakharpora.
This is the peak time of tourism, and tourists prefer to visit forest areas like Gulmarag, Sonamarag, Yousmarag, and this time I don't think that tourists will visit this place of Central Kashmir district, as most of the areas of Yousmarag have got badly affected, sources observed.
Sources believe that few days back the smugglers had chopped off some giant trees for the purpose of smuggling, after which villagers had noticed but they failed to inform the authorities concerned due to shortage of time.
They said that, there is a wide range of construction going on in in all parts of Jammu and Kashmir, and mostly people prefer wood in their construction.
Even some dry trees were also set on fire for charcoal purposes and the concerned departments is least bothered about such unfortunate incidents and if same was not stopped, there will be a great loss to the state exchequer, sources added. |
