Locals from Lar area of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district have alleged that a Field Worker of State Forest Corporation has been charging extra sums as commission while supplying timber to them. They said that this amounts to bribery and the official has been indulging in such malpractices in connivance with other Corporation officers.A delegation headed by one Ghulam Rasool from Lar Ganderbal told CNS that a Field Worker (name withheld) from SFC Division Ganderbal who is also in charge Lar area is demanding commission from the people who obtain timber from his depot. They said it has become a routine for this Field Worker to demand extra money from the people.Though we registered a complaint against this Field Officer but neither any probe was conducted nor was any action initiated against the said official.
The irony is that the said official has not been transferred from the area from past 15 years,” they said.Most of the people need timber for construction purposes. They have no option but to grease the palms of the said Field Workers,” the delegation said and appealed Forest Minister to look into the matter.General Manager SFC Wajahat Javaid Koul and Divisional Manager Altaf Hussain Qureshi assured probe into the allegations. “Be assured, we will probe the matter and if allegations prove correct, strict action under law will be taken against the man in question,” they said.Forest Minister Chowdary Lal Singh said that action will also be initiated against the officials who shield this Field Worker. “How he has not been transferred from past 15 years and if locals complained against him, why probe was not conducted? The officials are answerable. I assure the locals of Lar that matter will be probed and action will be taken,” Singh told CNS.