Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 31: Despite rampant felling of timber trees in Shopian forest belt by smugglers, the Forest Department has failed to curb the ‘green gold’ loot, citing “security risk” to challenge the smugglers.
Forests cover across the Pir Panjal range in Shopian district has seen an unprecedented decline due to illegal felling of the deodar and fir trees by smugglers.
Residents of Kellar said that the smugglers and forest officials have a “nexus” to chop the lush green trees here.
Adil Ahmad Shah, a resident, said that smugglers have wreaked havoc in the forests. He said that they have many a time tipped off forest officials about the smugglers cutting the trees. “But nothing was done. Whenever any smuggler is caught by forest officials in public glare, he is arrested,” Shah said.
“But when the officials apprehend any smuggler without the people knowing it, he is let off after paying a hefty bribe to them,” he alleged.
The Forest officials play down the resident’s accusation. Mohammad Ashraf Kutoo, Deputy Forest Officer (DFO), Shopian- Pulwama division told Excelsior that it was very tough to control the smuggling due to security risk.
“Our officials can’t move and raid during nights as the situation was not conducive. Inspite of the risky situation, we have from last few weeks detained many smugglers and seized their horses with huge quantity of timber,” Kutoo said.
He said they have curbed the timber smuggling in Shopian, but admitted that there are some notorious smugglers still active in Kellar belt of Pulwama.
“Our raids on smugglers have been intensified and in this week 10 FIRs have been registered against the smugglers.
Kutoo also said that they have recently seized a Maruti car when it was carrying timber illegally from Kellar forest division.
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