news details |
|
|
| Deodar, pine trees cut at Jaigathi but forest deptt do not have any such report | | | BHARAT BHUSHAN
JAMMU, June 4: In the lush-green Jaigathi forests of the mountain-locked Bhaderwah, several deodar and pine trees have been felled ruthlessly. While the officials concerned vehemently denied reports of the cutting of green gold, terming them as "baseless" and the handiwork of those who wanted to tarnish the image of the department, photographs, which Early Times has, say something else.
These photographs were taken in compartment No 32 of Jaigathi by the "lensman" who last week walked through the valleys and into the thickly-wooded hills to expose a possbile nexus between timber smugglers and officials, risking his own life.
In the photographs, some men are seen felling green trees fearlessly with the help of axes and mowers.
When this lensman, after hiding his camera in the bushes, went near them and tried to enquire from them if they had any permission to cut the trees, they browbeated him. Fearing danger to his life, he preferred to leave the spot.
Official sources said deodar and pine trees were also being felled by smugglers in some other compartments of Bhaderwah.
"If any senior forest official from Jammu, or a man from the forest ministry wishes to have the first hand account of the green gold loot in compartment No 32 and some other compartments of Bhaderwah, this is the right time for him to visit the area," the sources added, saying: "The cut stems still stand testimony to their wrongful felling."
When contacted, DFO, Bhaderwah, Mansoor Ahmad Gagroo asked this scribe to tell him where the green felling had taken place.
"Where have green deodar and pine trees been felled? Who reported you the matter?" he asked.
Gagroo categorically denied the reports of green felling in Jai woods, terming them as "baseless".
Asked if he was sure that timber smugglers had not connived with forest officials and engaged men to fell green gold, he repeatedly replied in the negative.
No connivance was possible at this stage as field staff, including guards, foresters and range officers, had a lot of development activities to do, he said and claimed that his staff would not connive with the smugglers.
Asked if he had ever taken a round of the woods that fell under his jurisdiction, the DFO said he regularly visited the forests to check green felling. "At times, I even take a round of the area after midnight," he claimed.
"The department gives a sanction only to cut and lift dead trees and wind fallen green trees to those who live in the mountains," he added.
When he was told that locals had also called up this scribe and told about the green felling in compartment No 32 of Jai forests, he said it was all "false".
"People often call me up with the complaints that some people had illegally hidden deodar scants in their houses. On verification, all such complaints were found fake," he asserted.
He took pride in saying that due to the enhanced vigil exercised by him and his staff, timber smuggling in Bhaderwah had almost ended. "I took over as DFO, Bhaderwah, about five months back and since then, only two scants, which were being carried illegally, have been seized," he claimed.
"I have made it clear that no such activity will be allowed in Bhaderwah," he added, unmindful of the fact that the "activity" was already continuing "clandestinely" and may be with the alleged connivance of forest officials.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
