Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, July 19: A joint team of Forest Protection Force (FPF) and Forest Range Officer (T), Poonch seized a truck with banned minor forest produce (MFP) valuing Rs 12.15 lakh (Pak currency), which arrived here as herbs from PoK via Chakkan-da-Bagh LoC point.
A senior FPF official said that a joint team of FPF and Forest (Territorial) intercepted a truck bearing number JK02AJ/0615 and found 59 bags of banned MFP including 2260 kg ‘Satwa’ ( Trillium Govanianum) and 1070 kg of ‘Kakora’ (Podophyllum Hexdrum/emodi), valuing over Rs 12,15,600 in Pakistani currency, loaded in it. The vehicle was on way to Jammu from Poonch.
During questioning to the driver and trader, it was established that consignment had arrived here from PoK via Chakkan-da-Bagh as herbs yesterday. ‘Satwa’ was packed in 40 gunny bags while ‘Kakora’ in 19 bags. On verification of the stuff, it was found that the forest produce ‘Kakora’ is a species under Schedule 6th of J&K Wild Life Protection Act 1978 ( Amended up to 2002) and further the export of said plant, its parts and derivatives are banned as per notification No. 2 ( RE-98) of 1997-2002 dated 13-4-1998 issued by Ministry of Commerce, Govt of India. Besides the said species being endangered is Appendices –II species under CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Flora and Fauna) of which both India and Pakistan are signatories. As a result the truck with MFP was seized and committing offence under Section 50 of J&K Wild Life Protection Act 1978, besides above violations. The case was later handed over to Divisional Forest Officer Poonch for initiating confiscation proceedings.
In order to avoid occurrence of such incidents in future, the State Forest Department has taken up the matter with the authorities at Chakkan-da-Bagh, for verification of stuff before according permission for its entry here from the PoK side, so that internationally banned items should not be allowed for trade.
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