Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh, today visited the Forest Check Post Lakhanpur and inspected the goods seized by the officers of Forest Department at Lakhanpur.Pertinently, acting on information regarding illegal import and smuggling of 300 kilogram polythene bags and 3840 willow cleft, Choudhary Lal Singh directed the Divisional Forest Officer posted at Lakhanpur Forest Check Post (FCP) to immediately visit the check post along with Station House Officer and seize the items under Forest Department norms.On the direction of the Minister, Divisional Forest Officer visited the toll check post and seized 300 kilogram polythene bags and 3840 willow cleft at Lakhanpur.
Interacting with the officers, the Minister directed them to remain present in the Post round the clock and check each item at the gate way of Jammu and Kashmir so that no illegal item would pass from Lakhanpur toll check post. He said import of Polythene bags in any form is banned in the State under Section 6 of the J & K Non- Bio-degradable material (Management, Handling & Disposable Act, 2007.Choudhary Lal Singh said that strict instructions have already passed to the forest check posts to lay special nakkas to check smuggling of polythene carry bags into state .
The Minister asked SHO Lakhanpur to lodge FIR under relevant sections so that culprit can be booked and every such attempt be thwarted with an iron hand.