Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 20: In a bid to conceal information vis a vis axing of forest trees for setting up of 440 KV Samba Amargrah transmission line, Office of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) has forwarded an RTI application to Chief Conservators (CCFs) of Jammu / Kashmir who further forwarded the same to Conservators of various circles. The information seeker is yet to receive the information as Conservators have further forwarded the RTI application to several Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs).
Details available with Early Times reveal that Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement through its Chairman sought information under RTI Act from Public Information Officer (PIO) in the office of PCCF J&K more than 40 days back, seeking details of Forest trees along with number of trees with age, type / species and location that have been axed during the execution of ongoing Inter State Transmission Line under project NRSS XXIX (Jallandhar -Samba -Amargrah Baramulla line ).
The Information seeker sought division / Range wise details from Bandipora , Baramulla to Samba via Baramulla (JV Division) , Tangmarg division, Pir Panchal division Budgam , Shopian , Poonch and Rajouri. Certified copies of No Objection Certificates (NOC's) given by Forest department to power companies M/S Power Grid Corporation , M/S NHPC , M/S J&K PDC , M/S Sterlite power and M/S Unitech Power Transmission Ltd were also sought.
Information seeker also sought details of compensation from Forest Department received from M/S Power Grid Corporation, M/S NHPC , M/S J&K PDC , M/S Sterlite power and M/S Unitech Power Transmission Ltd in lieu of felling of Forest trees and damages caused to Forest land in North , Central and South Kashmir plus districts of Poonch , Rajouri , Jammu , Samba & Kathua.
"Despite lapse of more than 40 days, we are yet to get the information. Most of the information sought is very much available in the office of PCCF , but we are unable to understand why PCCF office has forwarded out RTI plea to CCFs and CFs across state ?" exclaimed Mohammad Ramzan Khan Vice Chairman J&K RTI Movement. |
