news details |
|
|
| ET contests FD statement, stands by its report | | | Early Times Report
Kishtwar, Nov 3: Kishtwar forest department vide letter No: 1591/KFD dated 13-10-2012 today received by Early Times denied the news item published in 13-10-2012 edition titled as "Forest officials release timber truck seized by police without any action against guilty".
The denial statement issued through a letter dully signed by DFO Kishtwar, it was stated that a tipper bearing Registration No: JK17- 1354 was seized by Forest/Police at Gulabgarh Padder along with firewood, which according to the DFO had been extracted by looping of tree in Compartment 12b/P and was being transported without valid documents/permission.
The statement further said that the seized vehicle was taken into custody and had been kept in forest Rest House Complex at Gulabgard Padder. The letter further stated that after taking cognizance a case No: 39/2012 stands registered by Range Officer and after completing investigation the case has been lodged with A.O Kishtwar for initiating of confiscation proceedings under relevant section of Forest act. The letter further claims that the case is under trial with AO and the seized vehicle along with forest produce is continuing to be under custody of forest officials awaiting final disposal of the case. But the statement issued by the Forest Division Kishtwar through DFO Kishtwar is contrary to the claims made by some eyewitnesses that the said vehicles was again seized by the Forest department Kishtwar after the news report was published in 13-10-2012 edition of the Early Times.
The eyewitnesses from Padder claimed that the news item published in Early Times regarding illegal release of seized vehicle created ripples among several forest officials who without wasting any time once again seized the released vehicle and did necessary exercise to prove his claim that the seized vehicle has never been released.
As far 2nd part of the published news item, the letter of DFO Kishtwar reads that "In this news it is also reported that ponywalas are selling green timber in Kishtwar town. As per Jammu forest Notice the locals are permitted to lift dry fallen/dead material from the forest for their bonafide use and the incident reported is actually the same."
The news item published in the Early Times is based on the action of Assistant Commissioner Revenue Kishtwar and the Early Times is in the position of video footage in which ACR Kishtwar was seen stopping the ponywalas at one of the instance.
Though the DFO Kishtwar through his letter quoting the reference of Jammu Forest Notice agreed that thelocals are permitted to lift dry fallen/dead material from forest, but these ponywalas under the garb of this notice with the help of some forest employees were involved in illegal extraction of timber from the forest. Even though the Jammu Forest Notice allowed the locals to lift dry fallen/dead material from forests, but that too requires permission from the forest and revenue department and in these cases, these ponywalas did not obtain permission from any authority. And similarly ACR Kishtwar at the time of checking found the ponywalas selling the timber in Kishtwar town without any valid permission and accordingly brought the matter into the notice of the concerned Forest Conservator and DFO, who instead of acting on the ACR Kishtwar information failed to reach the spot stating that the DFO was busy in meeting at that time, despite the fact that ACR Kishtwar waited for the arrival of forest officials for more than one hour. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
