SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said no case of illegal tree felling was reported in the Marh Assembly constituency during the past three years, while no village in the constituency was included in the Forest Department’s Khair felling programme during the period.
The Forest, Ecology and Environment Department made the disclosure in a written reply to an unstarred question raised by MLA Surinder Kumar in the Legislative Assembly.
The department said its Management Plan for Khair growing on non-forest land, which provides for a 10-year felling programme in the Jammu Forest Division, was completed in 2025-26. However, no village falling within Marh constituency was proposed under the programme in 2023-24, 2024-25 or 2025-26, and consequently no felling permission was issued for such villages.
The reply also clarified that, in the case of other broad-leaved tree species, the Forest Department regulates their transportation through the National Timber Transit Permit (NTPS) Portal in accordance with applicable rules and procedures.
The government said a formal institutional mechanism exists across Jammu and Kashmir for prevention and detection of illegal felling and unauthorised removal of forest produce.
Forest field functionaries and Watch and Ward staff remain vigilant round the clock, the department said, adding that no illegal felling case had been reported in Marh during the three-year period.
The department said that where illegal felling or unauthorised extraction of timber or other forest produce is detected, action is taken under the relevant forest laws. This includes seizure of forest produce and registration of forest offence cases wherever warranted.
Cases are also filed before the authorised officer, namely the concerned Divisional Forest Officer, for initiation of confiscation proceedings, according to the government.
