CID to probe forest wood floating in Pandoh Dam

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 7

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today handed over investigation into the incident of forest wood and logs accumulated in the Pandoh Dam after cloudbursts recently to the CID. Huge quantities of logs were seen floating in the Pandoh dam in Mandi district which got accumulated after being swept down from the hills last week due to the cloudburst and flashfloods.

A spokesperson of the state government said that the inquiry will bring forth the reason for accumulation of such huge quantities of logs in Pandoh in the aftermath of the rain fury. “The first and the foremost reaction to the incidents of cloudbursts and floods was to save the life of people and provide immediate relief to them wherein effective measures were underway to bring back normalcy in the flood hit regions,” he said.

Significantly, videos and photographs of wood flushing down with the river and found floating in the Pandoh Dam went viral on a few media platforms, raising public concern and prompting need for investigation.

He said while the government and the administration was busy helping people, the BJP made a hue and cry regarding the forest wood without showing any sensitivity and concern for the ones affected by the cloudburst and flash floods

“The BJP leaders were making irresponsible statements at the time of disaster which shows that the opposition is highly insensitive when it comes to such matters as the issues of illegal felling of trees were never inquired and no accountability was set during their tenure.