Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 6: Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson and chairperson Waqf Development Committee of Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi while reacting to the increased forest loot in many sectors of J&K said that anti-social elements are hell bent upon destroying the green wealth here.
“During the Pandemic restrictions, smugglers have become pro-active and the loot of our jungles has increased manifold in J&K. During the early years of militancy, we saw a planned loot of forests which damaged our green treasure to an unimaginable level. Now again, we are seeing fresh trees falling in our jungles and there is no required deterrence from the forest department to stop this loot”, Dr Andrabi said.
She said that it was shocking to watch the videos of cutting-down of young trees & the transportation of the smuggled forest wealth on horses and tippers in different hilly areas of J&K, while we all were busy in the formal celebrations on World Environment Day yesterday.
Dr Darakhshan demanded that the smugglers be booked under stringent Forest laws so that nobody dares to destroy our unique ecosystem. She appealed to the Forest authorities to wake up from slumber and leave their huts and posh offices and visit the areas where they were needed. She also appealed to local civil society members to play their role in stopping the smuggling of forest-gold and save the environment.
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