Panel inspects McLeodganj

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 20

A committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary AK Khachi, today visited McLeodganj and its adjoining areas to verify action being taken by officials in illegal felling of trees.

The committee was formed by the Himachal High Court after local resident Gazalla Abdullah complained of large-scale felling of green trees by hoteliers.

Sources said the Additional Chief Secretary pulled up officials of the Municipal Corporation and the Revenue and Forest Department for shifting blame on each other on complaints of illegal felling of trees.

He directed them to adopt a standard procedure in case of such complaints, so that action could be taken against the violators.

According to information, revenue, forest and municipal corporation officials keep on blaming each other for inaction against the violators. In case of non-forest areas under corporation, the Forest Department maintains that it has no jurisdiction to take action. However, corporation officials maintain that only the Forest Department could act in such cases. Now forest officials have been posted in the corporation to assist in taking action in the cases of illegal felling of trees.

Gazalla Abdullah said she had informed the Additional Chief Secretary about the illegal practice still taking place in McLeodganj and its surrounding areas.

Sources said the Additional Chief Secretary had directed officials to take action against illegal constructions still underway in the McLeodganj area. Action would also be taken against those hoteliers who had been running their establishments even after their power and water connections were snapped following the court orders.