Kupwara: Locals living near the forest range of compartment number 79 of Zangli Division Kurhama Lolab Valley of frontier district Kupwara Tuesday alleged a nexus between the jungle smugglers and Forest Department officials is on to loot the green gold for their petty gains.
A delegation from Lolab Valley told CNS that even as timber smuggling continues unabated throughout Lolab Valley, but the lack of concern together with open patronage of those vested with the responsibility of protecting the forest wealth is making matters worse in Zangli Forest Division.
According to the locals, a few days back Forest Protection team led by deputy director found hundreds of chopping trees on ground in Compartment number 79 but according to them the team neither bother to report the incident to the higher authorities nor to police. The team didnt bother to inform anyone as they are in league with forest smugglers and the Forest officials provide them ample opportunity to loot the green gold, a delegation led by Abdul Ahad told CNS.
As per locals, the smugglers fell green trees, particularly during night hours, and sometimes even in the broad daylight, and ferry the timber on horses for sale in the adjoining villages
The thick forests here are fast depleting. The smugglers ferry the timber on horse-backs and sometimes on their shoulders and cross several villages without any inhibition. They later sell the timber in various parts of the district and other areas of the Valley, the locals said.
The locals alleged that there is a nexus between smugglers and the forest department employees and that is why things are happening under their nose. The locals asked the government to initiate action against those helping the smugglers.
The officials of Forest department and Forest Protection Force are openly conniving with the smugglers in this loot, residents of the area told CSN.
They alleged that the vehicles carrying illicit timber cross the check posts established by the Forest department without any hassles.
In next few years, we wont see forest cover in the area if immediate measures are not taken, the residents said.
The locals of Lolab Valley said that the exploitation of forest resources from Lolab Valley has created an environmental holocaust. A few decades back there were massive forests and their thick vegetation cover over the surface but in recent years, the vegetation is on the verge of depletion. Once the large expanse of rich, dense and green sylvan groves of deodar (Cedrus deodara), kail (Pinus wallichiana), fir (Abies pindrow) and chir (Pinus roxburghii) of Lolab valley had been compared with the famous Black Forests of Germany. But nowadays these forests have lost their eminence. Heavy deforestation in these areas has resulted into multidimensional ecological and environmental crisis such as denudation, sheet, rill and gully erosion, landslides, flash floods and change of climate. The hydrological cycle has also totally changed. Most of the springs in the hilly region have become dried, the locals said.
Deputy Director Forest Protection Main Javid admitted that they found hundreds of chopping trees lying on the ground but added that they could not remove the green gold as according to him it is a far flung area with no proper connectivity.
The claim of the Mian Javid was contradicted by the Range Officer North Lolab Abdul Rashid. He told CNS that nowhere in compartment number 79, green gold was chopped and lying on the ground.
Joint Director Forests Mr Andrabi said that he is not having any information about the incident and added that some vested interests are trying to defame the forest employees. We are not in league with jungle smugglers but performing our duties to our best, he said. (CNS)
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