Taking the immediate cognizance regarding illicit forest damage in Numblan, Sangerwani and Anderwali areas of Forest Range Romshi, a team of senior forest officials rushed to the forest areas to take stock of the situation there.The team was led by the Conservator of Forests, South Circle, Tawheed Ahmad Deva alongwith Joint Director Forest Protection Force, Kashmir Waseem Farooq, DFO Shopian Forest Division and other senior Forest Officers.During the inspection, it was found that, these forest areas are under exploitation work with State Forest Corporation but some incidents of forest damage have taken place in the forests during present lockdown situation imposed in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. The senior forest officers interacted with the local Sarpanch and other responsible citizens of the area who assured their cooperation and coordination for curbing the menace of timber smuggling.The Conservator South Circle constituted a team of officers for conducting thorough checking’s of the entire forests and detailed report to be submitted by the committee which shall follow appropriate course of action.Conservator along with other Forest officers met the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama and apprised him of the ground situation who assured all possible help from police to the forest department in controlling forest damages and accordingly the preliminary directions were given to DFO Shopian.DC asked them to constitute joint venture/Nakas at different hotspots in which both territorial and FPF officials should be included besides seeking police assistance and will prepare list of habitual offenders.