127 pine trees felled in Chamba’s Bhatiyat area

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, March 3

As many as 127 trees were felled by villagers in Bhatiyat assembly constituency last month. The forest department has now suspended a forest guard and block forest officer for failing to protect the forest wealth.

The issue pertains to widening of 10 km rural road from Rupana to Gumrahar in Bhatiyat assembly constituency in Chamba district. Sources here said that widening of road was getting delayed as forest clearance for felling the trees on it was pending for the five-km stretch. The local villagers after being allegedly prodded by ruling party leader from the area felled 127 pine trees so that the road could come up.

DFO Dalhousie, Nitan Patil said that the DPR for the construction of road was prepared in 2006. At that time many pine saplings were planted along the road. PWD and forest officials then did not send the case for felling of these saplings for the construction of road. Now after a lapse of more than 13 years when the road was being constructed these saplings have grown into trees.

Forest clearance for felling of trees for construction of road was received and the PWD had deposited compensatory aforestation funds with the Forest Department. However, the trees had to be felled by the Forest Corporation and not by the villagers.

As the trees have been cut by villagers the department has registered case against unknown people for felling the forest wealth and suspended two officials for failing to protect the forest wealth, he said.

Former Congress MLA from Bhatiyat, Kuldeep Pathania, while talking to The Tribune, alleged that the Forest Department was trying to cover up the matter under political pressure. He said over 150 pine trees have been felled illegally by ruling party workers under the protection of local BJP MLA. He further alleged that an inquiry should be held to find out how so many trees were felled right under the nose of forest officials and how the case was being hushed up by stating that the trees were just saplings.

Widening of 10-km rural road

• The issue pertains to widening of 10-km rural road from Rupana to Gumrahar in Bhatiyat assembly constituency in Chamba district.
• Sources here said the widening of road was getting delayed as forest clearance for felling the trees on it was pending for a five-km stretch.
• The local villagers after being allegedly prodded by a ruling party leader from the area felled 127 pine trees so that the road could come up.