| Revenue officials 'assisting' timber smugglers at Khour | | Against permission for 291, violators cut 700 trees on state land | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 2: Interfering in the functioning of Forest department in securing green gold, the officials of Revenue department at Khour are allegedly assisting smugglers to cut Khair trees from state land.
According to sources, as against permitted 291 trees on private land, the violators in connivance with some Revenue officials had chopped off 700 trees from state land without any permission.
"At least 15 people applied for the chopping of Khair trees on their private land, but only 5 were given permission by concerned District Forest Officer," said sources, adding that the DFO permitted five people to cut 291 trees planted on the private land.
In the meantime, a notorious contractor in connivance with some Revenue officials managed to chop off Khair trees from state land, said sources.
"The violators with the assistance of Revenue officials, without any permission, chopped off 700 trees on state land," said sources, adding that two subordinates of a senior Revenue official have struck this deal with the contractor, who allegedly managed chopping off the Khair trees on state land.
Wishing anonymity, a senior Forest official admitted that without any permission, violators have chopped Khair trees on state land. He said it is responsibility of the Revenue department to save the trees, while as the Forest department given permission to cut trees on the private land. |
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