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| Forest fires in J&K result of deliberate arson.....? | | Timber smugglers operate in connivance with officials | | Bharat Bhushan
JAMMU, Dec 15: A number of forest fires, that have taken place in J&K during the past few years, are mostly the result of deliberate arson. The alleged smuggler-official nexus, which has evidently taken roots in the state, is mainly held responsible for the green gold loss in the blaze.
In many such cases in the erstwhile Doda district, there were strong indications about the involvement of some politicians, but the probes were left half-way due political pressures.
On December 6 last, timber and pine trees worth crores were gutted in a devastating blaze in compartment No 18 of Duggi forests of Bhaderwah, Doda.
On the night of May 22 last, at least three compartments in Marhi village of Reasi were destroyed in a fire.
Over two weeks back, nearly 7,500 timber sleepers, valued at about Rs 20 cr, were burnt in a fire in compartment No 9 of Junglewar in Chirala, Doda.
Deputy commissioner (Doda) Farooq Ahmad Khan said police had yet not submitted him the report of the Junglewar incident. "I will be able to say anything on it only after I get the report," he asserted. While locals demanded a probe into these incidents, alleging that these were the handiwork of timber smugglers who operated in connivance with some forest officials, there was no response from the government.
It was, however, strongly felt that these fires were the direct off-shoot of the timber smuggling nexus which also contributed a lot to the problem of deforestation in the state.
Obviously, timber smugglers and some forest officials, after unauthorised felling and smuggling of timber from the far-flung and remote forest areas, set fires to destroy the evidence of their offence.
Setting forests on fires after felling trees was the easiest way to hide the theft of the green gold.
FIRs, in this regard, were registered at different police stations in Doda but any "big fish" was yet to be caught for his role in the forest fires.
A senior forest officer said it was a rags to riches story for many timber smugglers in Doda district. "Some timber smugglers did not have good houses to live till few years back but now they owned palatial houses," he added.
The officer said fires caused deforestation and loss of habitat of plants and animals. "Loss of habitat is the most important cause of endangerment and drives a number endangered species to extinction," he added.
"Deforestation causes serious soil conservation problems such as erosion because of which top soil flows into the rivers and lakes," the officer said.
Forest fires had also been occurring due to human accidents. To stop them, serious efforts ought to be made to increase local awareness about forest fire preservation, he added.
He said the holding of camps in the villages located close to forests could be of great help in this context. |
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