Mir Arif North Kashmir
Deteriorated timber logs have been witnessed in the upper area of Rafiabad. Hundreds of timber logs have become unimportant for Forest Department from years now. Locals witness that logs are not scheduled to supply any depot. They are chopped down to get fade and lost their moisture. Many families in the village of Panzulla, Humdub, Patoosa and Rafiabad are sheltering themselves in tents but Forest Department doesn’t have 100 feet of timber to spare on them.
A local resident of Rafiabad, Ali Mohammad Shah states that the behavior of officials towards
Hundreds of Timber Logs have become unusable for at forest Department at upper area of Rafiabad because the forest Department kept the above shown Timber logs here from years and were not supplied to any Depot and not allotted the people this is why the above shown logs have now become a unusable material for Department as well as for locals.
These hundreds of timber logs have also deteriorated and lost their moisture contents. The reason behind the delay of this timber is reluctance of forest official said a local Ali Mohammad Shah many families in Village Panzulla, Humdub, PatoosaRafiabd are sheltering in tents but the Deptt. Don’t have 100 feet of timber to spare for them & these families face various hardships due to the winter chill. This approach of Forest officials is forcing local residents of Rafiabad to go to forest and cut green gold.
“I applied for timber in 2010 and paid fee and submitted application form with the forest officer. He told me to come after 3 days when we visited officer told us our forms are missing said “Parvez Ahmad Mir of same locality”.
While pointing toward his under construction house he added the problem is in front of you. My house is without window and doors and also has no proper roofing.”
The said depots of the department have not sanctioned the above shown timber in pictures till it delayed and lost its moisture.
The people of upper area hardly have enough wood to construct roofs over their houses to protect themselves from the bitter winters. The forest Department Lets the timber to decay and at present these timber logs are left unattended by forest Department
UNUSABLE TIMBER FOR FOREST DEPARTMENT
