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| To act or not to act against violators my wish, says DFO Nowshera | | Asks media to mind its own business, not to blow issue of green gold being plundered out of proportion | | Ajay Sharma
Early Times Report
RAJOURI, June 16: The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Nowshera in this district has turned out to be a law unto himself since he has made it public that it is his own whim whether or not to act against the violators of law who plunder the green gold or encroach the forest in the division.
After receiving reports of large scale cutting of forests with the help of cutters by forest encroachers, Early Times contacted DFO Nowshera Suresh Manda in order to get his version. The DFO instead of giving his version said that the media should not bother about the issue and let the department do the work.
“The media has a habit of blowing things out of proportion and same is happened here as well. Let the media find out the culprits and take the action itself. As far as my department is concerned it is my own wish and whim whether to take action against the violators or not. You should not bother about the health of the forest cover at least in my jurisdiction,” said the DFO. Reports said that for the past six months or so cutters are being used to cut down the forests and at the same time encroachment of forests has also been going on in the Nowshera forest division in the Sunderbani tehsil. Despite the fact that the issue was brought into the notice of DFO and other forest officers no action has been taken so far.
The locals have alleged that a few officials are in hand in glove with the violators and as such huge damage has been caused to the green gold in the entire Sunderbani range.
Sources said that information was passed on to Chief Conservator Forests (CCF) Jammu that a Sarpanch has a cutter at his residence and he is using the same for cutting the nearby forest area. The CCF asked the DFO to visit the place and ascertain the complaint.
“The officers asked the Sarpanch to remain alert as the complaint has reached the higher level. He did so and by the time the team reached there nothing except wooden logs were found,” said sources |
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