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| Timber seized from Pahalgam Golf Course | | ‘Nexus between PDA officials, smugglers’ | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar, Aug 11 (KNS): The Forest Protection Force (FPF) has seized more than 53 cfts of green wood and 3 quintals of firewood dumped inside
the recently inaugurated golf course in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam
tourist resort.
Sources said that the FPF officials received information; about the green wood having been dumped in the golf course deep into the soil near hole 2 and 3 and decided to go for excavation on Wednesday.
However, the Pahalagam Development Authority (PDA), which is looking
after the golf course, sources alleged created hurdles in going for excavation and did not even allow the JCB to go inside .
“The FPF squad then engaged laborers to carry huge task of digging deep inside the soil at two different locations and after two days they managed to seize 100 cft of green wood,” sources said.
They said that the dumping of timber inside a golf course clearly exposes a well organized nexus between the PDA and the smugglers.
“How come the smugglers dared to dump the timber at a place where not
a single item can go without their permission, not to talk of a bulldozer,” they asked.
Even the top officials in the district administration, they said have to seek the permission from the PDA to go inside.
“Many prized Deodar and Kail trees were felled illegally in the compartment number 39 and the timber extracted from it was later dumped at three different places deep inside the soil in the golf course,” sources revealed.
They said that a local contractor of the golf course who is highly influential is involved in the crime.
“He has dumped the green wood in the golf course in connivance with the PDA officials and is even trying to use his influence to save himself,” sources revealed.
They said that Forest Protection Act clearly states that all the equipments used in the timber smuggling should be seized hence the machinery like JCBs used in this illegal activity should also be seized.
Sources added that an FIR was excepted to be lodged against the suspected persons soon and an investigation will be carried to ascertain the role of a local contractor and the PDA officials in the crime.
Confirming that the FPF squad seized 53 cft timber and three quintals
firewood dumped inside the golf course, Range Officer, Pahalgam,
Manzoor Ahmad told KNS that the operation was carried jointly by the FPF and forest department.
“After hard toil of two days we found 53 cft of timber and three quintals of firewood dumped inside the golf course,” he said.
The Ranger told KNS that investigations were on in the matter and FIR would be lodged soon against the culprits.
He said that since the golf course was being looked after by PDA ‘so
it was their responsibility to stop the illegal practice.’
“The PDA does not even allow us to carry an inspection of the trees that have dried up,” he alleged. |
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