Forest Dept forms panel to check illegal tree felling

Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, January 15

The Forest Department has constituted a special committee to ensure that there is no illegal felling and forests are properly demarcated and not used as a dumping ground by the public.

It is reliably learnt that the department had mooted a proposal to clear encroachments in three forest divisions falling under the local circle comprising Hamirpur, Una and Dehra. The circle office will be headed by a Chief Conservator.

Notably, forest areas in almost all the divisions were being used as dumping grounds by people and many government departments. The major problem persists near the district headquarters here as people of the town have been dumping garbage in the area behind the Forest Rest House. The Public Works Department (PWD) is allegedly dumping the debris extracted by cutting roads in forest areas.

ARM Reddy, Chief Conservator of Forests, said the department had constituted the committee to protect the wildlife and check illicit felling of trees. He said anyone found dumping garbage in forest areas would be challaned. There would be no compromise on the issue of illicit felling and anyone found guilty would be booked under the Forest Produce Protection Act. He said any officer found hand in glove with traffickers would not be spared.

It was learnt that Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), headquarters, Babita Thakur had been entrusted with the task of monitoring complaints at the circle level whereas DFOs of all other three divisions would perform similar duties in their respective divisions.

Forest officials were directed to carry out constant patrolling and monitoring, as per a circular issued on January 12 by the Chief Conservator of Forests here. Sources said the officials were instructed to take cognizance if anything relating to forest violations were apprehended.