Tree felling goes on unabated in Doda

Ranjit Thakur

Doda, January 29

The forest cover in mountainous Doda district is dwindling at a very fast pace owing to ineffective regulatory controls by the Forest Department.

Timber smugglers in connivance with some officials are allegedly felling trees posing a serious threat to the environment.

Mushtaq Ahmed Malik, a local resident and social activist of Marmat, said the ruthless cutting of trees was going on in compartment numbers 50 to 64.

He alleged forest officials had developed a nexus with timber smugglers who in a well planned manner cut trees, especially deodar.

“Half-cut trees and burnt stems are enough to describe the pace at which timber smuggling is going on in the area,” said Mushtaq, adding that, “we want a high-level inquiry through Vigilance or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) so that the real picture comes to the fore.”

“The area, once known for its thick forest cover and rich wildlife, shows a grim picture and forests that once were dense are fast losing their sheen with authorities acting as a mute spectator,” Mushtaq said.

Another resident Janak Raj alleged that last year massive cutting of trees in the area without numbering in compartment number 66 was done by SFC of Chalota area in Doda.

Zahid Mugal, District Forest Officer, Batote-Marmat range, however, denied the charges of illegal cutting in the area. He said, “If anyone has any complaints, he can approach him directly or visit the areas in his company. If anyone is found involved, strict action will be taken against him,” he said.

Bhushan Kumar Gangoo, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Gandho, said massive forest cutting was on at the construction site on the Gandho-Jai road.

“I visited the area and found that a lot of trees had been fallen, where various wooden planks were found extracted without a record being maintained. It seems it’s not the construction of a road, but destruction of forest,” he alleged.

TB Singh, District Forest Officer, Bhaderwah-Gandho Range, said, “Those trees coming under the alignment of the road has to be removed for the construction of the road. The state forest corporation is removing them as per norms and maintaining all record.”

“I cannot say it’s 100 per cent control of forest cutting in my region, but so far I have seized a huge number of timber and placed under suspension two foresters and four guards in my region and started inquiry against them,” the officer said.