Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat
It is now more than a month since Kashmir valley is going through another terrible phase of unrest. More than 60 civilians have died in clashes with security forces, around 100 youth have lost their vision and more than 3000 people are injured that includes some 200 security officials as well. Government property worth crores has been destroyed by the angry protestors. Several hospital ambulances, private cars have also been damaged not only by the protestors but security officials have also been involved in such acts. At a time when whole Kashmir valley is in a state of mourning , distress and shock , we have another lot of people who do not throw stones at security forces , but they are involved in much more heinous crime. These unscrupulous elements are nowadays busy in destroying our forest wealth and another lot is involved in illegal constructions etc as civilian administration is not able to move out to take note of such illegal activities.
Felling of green trees
In past I have been raising serious concern about cutting down of green chinars, forest trees and illegal encroachments. It is continuously reported in the local media that timber smugglers who had become inactive from last many years are now again active with their dirty business. They axe down mighty Chinars , Walnut trees , Deodars and other forest trees across Kashmir . Green Chinars , Walnut trees , Deodars , Kail and Fir trees are being cut down by the gangs of timber smugglers on daily basis right from July 9th onwards when the unrest started in Kashmir aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujhideen militant Burhan Wani. As reported by many local dailies in valley , the loot of forest trees , chinars and walnut trees goes unabated in Kupwara, Baramulla , Bandipora, Budgam and Kulgam districts. It is reported that timber smugglers axe young and old Pinus trees mostly during the night hours in the forest areas and subsequently smuggle the timber in the local villages and even towns . The smugglers and other people associated with this illegal trade take undue advantage of the present crises. Because of continuous shutdown &curfew , the Forest officers are hardly seen on the ground. Timber smugglers take advantage of this situation and are causing severe damage to the Forest wealth. Sources say that at many places the Forest department officials too are in hand and glove with these smugglers . On July 28th a leading newspaper published from Srinagar reported that Kail trees locally called Kairooin compartment numbers 109 and 110 which comes under the jurisdiction of Forest Range Ajas , district Bandipora have been almost completely chopped off. It is reported that trees are being axed in Arin forest belt of the same district, in-spite of the fact that matter was already brought into the notice of local authorities. The illegal practice is not coming to halt and instead more and more people other than organized gangs of timber smugglers are now getting involved in this illegal practice. Reports from Kupwara also say that timber smuggling is going on unabated in various parts of this North Kashmir district and Forest department hardly acts against these criminals. Hundreds of Deodar , Fir and Kail trees have been chopped off in Rajwar, Ramhal, Nutnusa, Check, Kandi and adjoining areas from last 10 to 12 days. During 2010 unrest similar loot and plunder was going on in Forests of PirPanchal in Budgam and other districts as well. From 2010 onwards the Forest department had considerably brought down the timber smuggling across state , but the ongoing loot of forests has caused such a huge loss to forests which cannot be compensated at all even if there is no such loot for next 5 years. In many villages the Chinar and Walnut tree are being felled by another gang of people associated with timber trade. Walnut wood is used to make high quality furniture and it is forbidden to cut down these trees , but some vested interested people are now on the job and they chop off walnut trees. Budgam, Anantnag and Kupwara are the worst affected districts as it is reported that hundreds of walnut trees have been cut down by an organized mafia by involving local villagers.
Illegal Constructions
Cable Car Corporation that operates the “Gumlarg Gandola” used to carry tourists just days before the present unrest began. The said Gandolawas seen to have been carrying construction material to KongDoori. This news was reported by some local dailies last month. The Cable Car Corporation is said to have allotted construction work of a park at Kong Doori which locals say is not allowed as per High Court directions as this work violates Environment Protection Law. It is also alleged that the said work has been allotted without tendering it. Pertinently the J&K High court last year had banned all constructions at Gulmarg. A division bench comprising Justices M H Attar and Ali Mohammad Magrey directed the authorities to ensure that all construction activities in Gulmarg be stopped and vehicles carrying construction material to the resort be seized. The said court order banning construction and transportation of construction material came following reports of large scale illegal construction in the garb of minor repairs and without proper permission from the authorities. It is alleged that many hotels in Gulmarg are undertaking constructions around their hotels and authorities seem to be mere spectators.
Conclusion
Recently the CEO of Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) Mushtaq Simnani and his team were attacked by a group of people when PDA tried to stop some illegal constructions going on in this tourist place . As per news reports, when the PDA started demolition drive a group of people started raising slogans in favour of Azadi and threw stones on the PDA officials as well. Do we need azadi for doing all such shameful acts ? Do we need azadi to destroy our natural wealth , forests , chinars and walnut trees ? Do we need azadi to grab Government land and plunder our mountains &wetlands ?Lot of illegal construction is taking place around Dal lake as well. If we will not stop these shameful acts we will soon face a big natural disaster as we are waging a war against nature and our creator.
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