Storm, snowfall uprooted 60,000 trees in Shimla district in March

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Chopal(Shimla), April 26

Over 60,000 trees worth crores of Rs 37,000 alone in the Chopal forest division, in Shimla were uprooted by the March snowfall and storm this year. The Forest Department has decided to give these uprooted trees as timber distribution (TD) to right holders, while other bigger lots would be handed over to the Forest Corporation.

As this correspondent travelled through Chambi, Chharki, Kungu Nali, Sadach, Malva, Kuiya and other forest areas, thousands of the uprooted trees present a picture of devastation in the deodar-rich forest of the Chopal division.

The uprooted trees created a deep wound in Asia’s thickest and most beautiful forest, rued local residents.

“We have not seen such a disaster in the jungle before”, said Surat Negi, a shepherd from Bhawa.

There are spots where 20 trees got uprooted due to the heavy snowfall, added Prem Bhagta and Deepak Kumar, local residents.

The Chopal forest division has witnessed the maximum damage to the forest where about 37,000 trees have been uprooted, said Alok Nagar, conservator of forests, Shimla circle.

“It is estimated that about 60,000 trees were damaged in the Shimal circle this year”, he added.

“We will sanction timber to right holders”, Nagar said. “The bigger lots will be handed over to the Forest Corporation and work is on in Shimla circle”, he added.

The idea is to save the standing trees. “The top heavy canopy of the trees could not withstand the weight and most trees cave in due to the windstorm”, said forest officials.

There are thousands of trees lying flattened in the forest beats of Maroag, Chadradhar, Bamta, Momvi, Tharoach, Kakradhar, Choordhar wildlife sanctuary, Sarahan, Pulbahal, Banga Pani, the Khagna-Riuni-Ghayalt belt, all thick forest areas in the Chopal sub-division.