Sopore: Various compartments in Kandi Range of kamraj forest division across many areas falling in Rampora Rajpora and cherhar areas of sopore are facing unabated wanton loot of forest as timber smugglers are cutting trees and ferry them to other parts of district with the help of officials.
Witnesses said that the thick forests are being devastated by timber smugglers in Rampora, Rajpora and cherhaar areas in upper reaches of watlab falling under kandi Range of kamraj Forest Division.
Some locals of these areas said that the some field forest officials have given free hand to smugglers as they lightly visit the area to check the smuggling, the work of cutting green gold is much visible even in broad daylight without any fear.
As smugglers have cleaned huge patches of forest and have turned forest area barren, they were cutting and slicing green logs and later ferry the timber in the market for sold.
While confirming the details shared by Malik was found that the wanton loot of forest is continuing process carried out allegedly in connivance with the forest officials.
Locals alleged that the forest mafia has been thriving as the forest officials are hand in glove with the smugglers, locals said green cover in Rampora and Rajpora belt of Kandi Forest Range has depleted drastically since 2007, and the most of cutted trees are sold to private builders in the surrounding areas who later on transport the same to other parts of the valley without any hesitation, some locals alleged that Employees of Forest control Room sopore are helping hand for timber smugglers while guiding them to ferry illicit timber from the areas of Muqam, Mundji and Shiva towards other parts of valley during night hours.
A lower rank forest official told INS that timber smuggling could not be stopped without support from the department’s top brass.When contacted the conservative north circle, Irfan Rasool agreed that a huge damage has been done to Rampur and Rajpur forests due to illegal deforestation and local timber mafia’s.
“To tackle this situation we have taken few new measures which will soon prove positive. First we have changed the whole staff of that area with young & energetic employees. Second the locals who are involved in timber mafia are poor and have no means other than this to earn their livelihood, so to address this socio economic crises which leads locals to continue timber smuggling, we have identified the timber smugglers and have made profiles of them and according to their profiles they will be trained in a particular skills with the help of some NGO’s and we will help them in getting jobs, these measures will help us to put full stop on timber mafia v very soon,” he said.
Meanwhile despite repeatedly attempts Concern Range officer Sopore was not available our phone calls .
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