M Majid Malik

Bhaderwah

Exposing the failure of forest department in protecting the green gold loot, the Forest Protection Force (FPF) team organised a raid and seized 300 Deodar and Kairu sleepers from Chirrala Forest range of Bhaderwah under Bhaderwah Forest Division on Friday.

Official sources said that FPF officials received information about the felling of Deodar and Kairu trees in Compartment No. 8 and 9/J of Chirrala Range. It was communicated that some green trees were felled in the area falling under Forest Block and many timber logs were lying at various points in the forest.

Based on this information, the team led by Dy Director Forest Protection Force, Doda organised an operation, with the assistance of staff at Chirrala Forest reporting centre and seized 300 timber sleepers which once again proved how smugglers are active in forest division Bhaderwah.

These sleepers had been scattered at different places in beat. The case was registered at Forest Range Office in this connection.

Locals alleged some people in connivance with forest officials have been looting the green gold in Bhaderwah forests. “In absence of any checking and surveillance, the smugglers were destroying the forest wealth in different forest ranges and Divisional Forest Officer has failed on all fronts to protect the trees,” they said.

When contacted Dy Director FPF Doda said more than 300 sleepers were seized in Chirrala range in the operation and added that operation will continue. “A case has been registered to investigate the loot.”

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