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| Timber smugglers chopped off pine trees in Pahalgam Golf Course | | Police registers FIR, locals point finger on influential hotelier | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Pahalgam, Jan 10: Timber smugglers at this famous tourist destination chopped down at least nine pine trees inside the famous Golf Course during the intervening night, police said on Saturday; however locals and officials pointed figure on nearby influential hotelier
According to tourism department, smugglers chopped off the trees during the night about 300 meters away from their residential quarter in protected Golf Course. A senior tourism official posted in Phalgam said that smugglers have used latest technology for cutting the trees.
However the locals contested the claims of the department and accused nearby influential hotelier for the unlawful activity.
"How come it is possible that a smuggler can enter into the Golf Course which tourism department employees' guard round the clock?" group of local told Early Times, adding smuggler will never prefer to smuggle in protected zone.
They said that Pahalgam is covered by lush green forests so why a smuggler will travel 3 kms to chop down trees inside the Golf Course. "It will be easir for a Pahalgam resident to chop down the trees in his nearby forest zone not inside the Golf Course which is 3kms for away from Pahalgam village." They said
Local's points figure on nearby influential hotelier who according to them has dried up dozens of trees in front his hotel by using chemicals. "If police will raid the hotel with sincerity they can easily recover the timber." They said.
Locals said that hotelier stands suspected before the people of Pahalgam as forest department instead of taking action against him in drying up the trees by using chemicals declared a natural disaster which we still fail to understand.
They said that the distance between the hotel and the spot where trees have been chopped off is few only meters which again expose the deeds of influential hotelier.
Raising question over tourism department they said that it has at least two dozen employees who guard the Golf Course.
Tariq Ahmad, a Tourism Department official told Early Times that they have approached police station pahalgam with a written complaint. "Its surprise for us how they (Smugglers) managed to cut the trees we have approached police station with a written complaint." He said, adding the spot where trees have been chopped off is 300 meters away from the residential quarter of his department.
Meanwhile Police has registered an FIR against the unknown timber smugglers and started the investigation.
"Tourism department approached us with a written a complaint after which we registered an FIR and visited the spot." SDPO Pahalgam, Tanveer Ahmad confirmed to Early Times, adding police has initiated the investigation process.
However he refused to comment over the involvement of influential hotelier. "Today I was busy with the demolition drive there in Pahalgam so tomorrow we will analysis the role of tourism department, contractor etc in this case." He added. |
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