The wanton loot of forests continues unabated in Marseri Chokibal of Kupwara district in North Kashmir. Timber smugglers had chopped off scores of green trees in alleged nexus with Forest department officials.
According to official sources, “The timber smugglers had dumped large quantity of forest timber in Marseri Chokibal of Kupwara district, we were informed by some locals of the Gund Marseri that green forests were chopped off by timber smugglers in broad day light and due to callous attitude of forest department the smugglers were roaming freely in an area. The action came after a Forest Protection Force Kehmil Division led by Forest Protection Inspector Aadil Hussain seized huge quantity of illegal timber in Gund Marseri compartment number 12 D in Kehmil Division.”
Local residents of Marseri Chokibal told KNS that, day in and out these timber smugglers are cutting trees. Due to callous attitude of Forest department, it seems that the forest officials are hand in glove with timber smugglers.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelSmugglers chop off these trees during day time and transport it in the night on horses backs and trucks to the nearby areas of Kupwara town and other adjoining areas to sell it to band saw mills owners, local alleged.
Locals on condition of anonymity said, “Taking advantage of rain and snow on upper reaches, the felling of trees and smuggling of timber is increasing enormously day by day. It seems that Forest department is in a deep slumber and have given free hand to the timber smugglers, this is high time that government of Jammu and Kashmir should take serious action against those who are being found in smuggling of green gold.”
When contacted Forest Protection Force Inspector Kehmil Division Aadil Hussain, said, “After receiving specific inputs about the illegal timber smuggling, we set a naka near compartment 12-D and intercepted a truck no. JK01D-6796 and recovered about 160 feet of illicit timber worth lakhs from the vehicle.”