At a time when Kashmir is in the midst of uprising, timber smugglers and lawbreakers are busy plundering forest and destroying environment with state administration nowhere to be seen on the ground, writes Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat
|| DR. RAJA MUZAFFAR
Kashmir in the middle of another summer uprising. Almost 70 civilians have been killed in and more than 500 youth have been hit by pellets in eyes apart from an estimated 5000 people having being injured i n action by security forces. Government property worth crores has been destroyed and several ambulances, private vehicles have been damaged not only by protestors but security forces have also been actively involved in such criminal acts. At a time when whole Kashmir is in a State of mourning, we have another lot of people who do not throw stones, but they are involved in much more heinous crime.
These unscrupulous elements are nowadays busy in looting our forest wealth and in illegal constructions as civilian administration is nowhere to be seen on the ground. Axing Green wealth: Timber smugglers who had become inactive for last many years are back to their dirty business. They are axing down mighty Chinars, Walnut trees, Deodars and other forest trees across Kashmir on daily basis for past more than one month soon after the unrest started in Kashmir in the aftermath of killing of Hizb commander Burhan- Wani. The loot of forest, Chinars and walnut trees, as reported by media, is going unabated in Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Budgam and Kulgam districts.
It is reported that timber smugglers become active mostly during the night hours in the forest areas and subsequently smuggle the timber in the local villages and even towns, taking undue advantage of the present crises. Because of continuous shutdown and 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 in compartment numbers 109 and 110, which comes under jurisdiction of Forest Range Ajas, district Bandipora, are being chopped off on daily basis. 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. In many villages the Chinar and Walnut tree are being felled by another gang of people associated with timber trade as Walnut wood is used to make high quality furniture, though it is forbidden to cut down these trees. The districts like 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.
Only a few days back Sajad Rasool who works with Video Volunteers shot a video wherein one can see Bakerwals axing a green Fir (Kairoo) tree. When the group involved in the criminal act was being questioned by Sajad, they reacting saying that they want to extract “honey” from the tree claiming they had located a wild honeycomb under the trunk of the tree. These people could not even dare to touch the tree just a few months back but today when herds of people are seen in forests cutting down trees, these Bakerwals saw an opportunity to fell down an 80-year old tree to get “honey”. Illegal Constructions on: The Cable Car Corporation that operates “Gumlarg Gandola” used to carry tourists just days before the present unrest began. The said Gandola was however found to transport construction material to Kong Doori.
Timber smugglers who had become inactive for last many years are back to their dirty business. They are axing down mighty Chinars, Walnut trees, Deodars and other forest trees across Kashmir on daily basis for past more than one month soon after the unrest started in Kashmir in the aftermath of killing of Hizb commander BurhanWani
This news was reported by a local daily last month. The Corporation is said to have allotted construction work of a park at Kong Doori which locals say was not allowed as per the High Court directions as it violates environment protection law. It is also alleged that the said work has been allotted without tendering it. Pertinently J&K High Court last year had banned all constructions in Gulmarg. A division bench comprising Justices M H Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey had directed the authorities to ensure that all construction activities in Gulmarg be stopped and vehicles carrying construction material to the tourist resort be seized.
The Court had ordered banning construction and transportation of construction material 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 were undertaking constructions around their hotels and authorities seemed to be mere spectators. Tailpiece: Recently the Chief Executive Official, Pahalgam Development Authority, (PDA) Mushtaq Simnani and his team were attacked by a group of people when PDA tried to stop illegal constructions in the tourist place. As per news reports, when the PDA started demolition drive a group of people started raising pro-Azadi slogans 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 and wetlands? On several occasions many upright officers in the Government tried to stop these activities.
On the direction of Vice Chairman Lakes & Water Ways Development Authority, many Illegal constructions were dismantled around Dal lake recently. But as per reports these illegal constructions still goes on. The Government officials cannot do anything alone unless we as a society condemn these acts and stop these activities ourselves. Even the resistance leaders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani also appealed people not to get involved in such acts. But the smugglers and vested interests, seeing an opportunity in the present unrest, don’t even give a damn to such appeals.
