Mir Arif
The forest department has time and again failed to check the timber smuggling and forest mafia even after being reported in various local dailies. The illegal chopping of green deodars and kairo trees continues in compartment 38 of Range watergam, despite the Supreme Court has banned it.
The loot of green Deodars is depriving Rafiabad of its precious forest wealth. Green trees worth lakhs of rupees have been illegally chopped off in the said compartment in Block Rohama (Range Division Watergam).
Locals allege that the concerned officials were prevented from doing their duties due to the presence of militants in the forests and their frequent armed encounters with security forces. Taking advantage of that situation, smugglers illegally harvested and sold huge quantities of timber in and outside the state for handsome rates. However, the drives for afforestation and regulating laws of forest by the government failed to bring out any concrete steps to protect the lush green forests and the wildlife, which got affected because of deforestation. And those voices that raise voice against deforestation are scuttled .
“My Son Khursheed Ahmad was on way to Chatoosa when he caught a forester, forest guard and some smugglers red-handedly involved in felling and chopping of green deodars and he immediately informed Police station Panzla and also informed Media persons over phone on the spot. But it’s unfortunate and injustice in our society that my son has been put behind the bars on fake charges. Because forester and forest officials alleged that Khursheed has taken revenge from forest officials and he himself has chopped down the two deodars in compartment No: 38 which is truly illogical and fake story created by forester and forest guard in their self-defense,” said father of Khursheed Ahmad.
An eyewitness Khursheed himself informed media over phone about the nexus and said that “I have caught red handed forester and forest guard in compartment 38 and they were Chopping down two green deodars but then they fled the spot.”
Locals also added that range officer watergam and forester, Abdul Qayoom supplies illegal timber to Joinery mills on regular basis and if any media person enquires from the concerned Range Officer he respond with abusive and threatening language.