3 truckloads of timber seized by forest officials

Nurpur, February 27

A team of the Forest Department, led by Ravinder Singh, deputy ranger, Rey forest range, set up a special naka near the Pong Dam reservoir yesterday evening and intercepted three truckloads of timber on the inter-state border of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

The timber was allegedly being transported from the state to Punjab without any valid transit documents.

Last week, five truckloads of timber, that were being transported to Punjab, had been intercepted by the Forest Department in Rey forest range of Nurpur forest division.

The entire forest range lies adjacent to Punjab and the forest mafia illegally transports precious timber from the state to Punjab to sell it at a higher price there.

Nurpur Divisional Forest Officer Amit Sharma said the previous truckloads of timber intercepted by the department had been released after realising a compensation of Rs 48,000 for violation of forest transit rules.

Amit Sharma said that investigation was in progress after yesterday’s seizure and action would be taken as per Section 41, 42 of the Indian Forest Act and forest transit rules.

Sold at higher price

The entire forest range lies adjacent to Punjab and the forest mafia illegally transports precious timber from the state to Punjab to sell it at a higher price there.