Amid unrest in Kashmir, the timber smuggling goes unabated in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district while the forest department is acting as mute spectators with taking no action on them.Sources said that in several forest areas of Kupwara district including Rajwar, Ramhal, Nutnusa, Check, Kandi and others, the timber smuggling goes unabated. They said that no action was being taken against the persons involved in the smuggling of timber. “Despite tall claims of the government to take strict action against the forest encroachers and timber smugglers, the officials of the forest department don’t pay any heed to the ongoing timber smuggling in these areas,” they said.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kamraj, Muhammad Ayoub told KNS that they have also reports of timber smuggling in the forest areas falling under his jurisdiction. “Whosoever will be found involved in smuggling, strict action will be taken against him,” he said.Meanwhile, Chief Conservator Forest (CCF) Nisar Ahamd Darzi told KNS that due to the clampdown of cellular services, it becomes difficult for them to contact officials to look into the reports of smuggling of timber.“Despite clampdown of services, we managed to contact with the officials and deputed them to visit the spots to investigate the matter,” he said. (KNS)