Illegal timber seized; father-son duo held

Acting on a tip-off a team of Forest Department seized 24 deodar sleepers during a raid in Dand village under the Saloh Beat of the Masroond Range in Chamba. Measurements of timber used in a partially constructed house were also taken, confirmed Chamba Divisional Forest Officer Kritagya Kumar.

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The accused, a father-son duo, failed to produce any legal document for the timber during the inspection. Consequently, the Forest Department confiscated the illegally stored wood and arrested the accused, he said.

Sources in Forest Department said some beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana have been allegedly using timber sourced illegally from forest or private lands for construction purposes.

After complaints of large scale illegal felling in Masroond range, the Forest Department for past few days has intensified vigil in the area, with regular patrolling and close monitoring of suspicious activities. The raid has created panic among those involved in illegal logging and timber storage.

The Forest Department has gone into high alert mode following serious allegations of illegal logging and clearing of forest land in Masroond. All staff leaves have been cancelled, and teams have been formed to monitor every activity in the area. The teams are conducting 24/7 patrols and inspecting all vehicles moving in and out of the region.

In response to a complaint by social activist Bhuvneshwar Sharma, the Forest Department, under orders from Additional Chief Conservator of Forests, Shimla, DR Kaushal, has formed a special investigation team. This team comprises officials from the flying squads of Shimla and Dharamsala zones.

The investigation team has begun its inquiry, including questioning departmental officials and field staff and inspecting the forest areas for evidence of illegal logging. If confirmed, strict action will be taken against those found guilty, including departmental personnel involved.