Aijaz Dar
Shopian, Oct 08 (KNS): Residents living in adjoining areas of Shopian forests on Thursday alleged that Forest Department is providing the timber on exorbitant rates.
Aggrieved residents told KNS that Forest Department has categorized several zones under A, B and C, adding people living in nearby zones deserves the timber on low rates.
They said the Government had earlier constituted State Forest Corporation which is an authority to sell the timber to all the three zones but with the passage of time, SFC has committed several mistakes, resulting people to suffer.
“A zone residents are getting timber at high rates as compared to B & C zones”, locals said.
“We were getting timber on low rates as Government had issued a circular wherein it was mentioned that whosoever falling under zone A will get timber on low rates”, locals said and added, “But from last several years the order has been shelved by the officials which left people living in nearby areas of forest into manifold hardships”.
They appealed Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shopian and other concerned officials to intervene into the matter and ensure justice to the concerned.
Meanwhile reports reached to KNS stated that concerned wing of Forest Department in Shopian district is witnessing death of employees, resulting inconvenience to applicants who application for getting timber are unattended for a long time.
“We have submitted application months back but no attention is being given to them as no official is appointed for the task within the department for addressing our problems”, locals alleged.
Senior citizens and social activists of the area also expressed strong resentment over the issue and appealed higher authorities to look into the matter. They smelled foul in the matter and said with the continuous deforestation, timber crisis has badly added hardships to the people.
Chief Conservator Forest Syed Farooq Geelani told KNS that Government has taken decision after it chosen SFC to sell the timber in the zones but as of now zone categorization has been ended.
“There is absolute transparency in the distribution after zone category has been revoked”, officer said. (KNS)