Smugglers Turn Tosamaidan Forest Into Open Field

Budgam—The picturesque Tosa­maidan here in Central Kashmir has been com­pletely disfigured by unscrupu­lous elements while those who are at the helm of affairs in the Forest Department are allegedly aware about the loot of green gold that is going on at a massive scale.

Kabakoot Forest in the middle of Tosamaidan is presenting a devastated look as almost all the trees have been uprooted. This reporter even saw at a couple of places stumps are on fire to destroy evidence.

Locals blame forest officials for the mess. They claim, that top forest officials and lower rung employees of the department are in connivance with smugglers looting the green gold. This loot fetch them huge money. There are still some who hold army responsible for the destruction of Tosamaidan. “It was a firing range that was used by the Army. As long as Army was sta­tioned here, nobody dared to visit this area. Forest Department didn’t launch any afforestation drive after army left this range,” said a group of locals.

When one looks around the Tos­amaidan Kabakoot forest, it looks denuded as thousands of pine trees have been cut. “This is so painful. Stringent punishment should be awarded to officials who allowed this loot,” said a local resident.

The irony is that Chief Conserva­tor Forests Kashmir and DFO Bud­gam are feigning ignorance about this green gold loot. “Has it really happened? Have trees been cut and stumps set on fire,” asked DFO Budgam Muhammad Rafique.

Similarly Chief Conservator Forests Kashmir said that he doesn’t know anything about it. “If it has really happened, ac­tion will be initiated against the guilty,” he assured. (CNS)

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