Stumps of 17 felled trees removed to hush up case

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, May 17

A day after the findings of an inquiry committee into deodar tree felling in Dharamkot and McLeodganj were out, attempts are being made to hush up the matter. On Saturday night, JCB machines were seen removing deodar trees’ stumps.

The inquiry was ordered by Additional Chief Secretary Tarun Sridhar and conducted by officials of the Department of Forests, headed by Chief Conservator Wildlife SD Sharma. The report said the Kangra DC gave permission to fell 14 trees (seven for allegedly threatening the life and property of locals and seven for development purposes). The inquiry report states that three trees were felled illegally and action would be taken against the culprits.

While many locals and foreign tourists raised hue and cry over the use of the JCB machines to remove the stumps, no officials came to the spot and stop the use of heavy machinery in green areas.

Doubts have also been raised over the faulty manner in which the permission was given.

Under the MC rules, the permission to fell green trees could only be given if they threaten the life and property of individuals. The deodar trees were felled from vacant plots located at isolated places. The permission to fell trees on the excuse of threat to life and property was fraudulent. In case of permissions for developmental purpose, the building plans of the proposed complexes has to be cleared first by the District Town and Country Planning Department.

However, sources said in most of the cases where the permission for felling was given for developmental purpose, the maps for construction have not yet been approved by the department.

The green cover of deodar trees in McLeodganj and Dharamkot has been falling prey to constant mushrooming of small hotels and guest houses. These have been coming up illegally as their plans have neither been approved by the department or municipal council. These hotels are also not registered with the Tourism Department. The buildings have been brought after felling green trees. There are no roads to these hotels and guest houses.