WE THE PEOPLE
Continued operation of Band Saw Mills in Kashmir forest areas violates Apex Court directions to the hilt
Hence people demand implementation of judicial directives and buttressing of Forest Protection Force to control damages
By: Uzair Khan
SRINAGAR: The holy saint, Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA), had warned against plundering and denuding forests as these have direct bearing on food production. But with the passage of time, this concept lost sight of unscrupulous elements, who not only resorted to random felling of green trees but even established Band Sawmills in the forests. However, it is gratifying that the Supreme Court of India took notice of the issue and imposed ban on establishment of Band Saw Mills within eight kilometres of the forest area. It was after the matter was brought into the notice of the Court that illicit felling of trees had increased, causing serious damages to the forests.
As regards Jammu and Kashmir State, it has come to our notice that in contravention of Court orders, 464 Band Saw Mills operate in Lidder Forest Division, which have facilitated and resulted in forest damages. The felling of trees has increased and the number of unsettled cases risen from 1.38 lakh to 1.44 lakh during the period 2002-06, indicating negligence on the part of the Department in settling the cases. Sensing such a random felling of trees, the Government sanctioned 30 units of Forest Protection Force in 1996 with adequate infrastructure. However, only 17 units were established as on March 2007. The Government did not frame the rules governing the service conditions of the Forest Protection Force, its area of activity and handling of arms and ammunition. Due to non-framing of these rules, the objective of checking the forest damages and tackling the armed intrusion was not achieved and there were 15895 forest damage cases during the year 2002-2006. Further infrastructure costing Rs.84.69 lakh created during 2002-05 for storage of arms/ammunition in four Divisions of Anantnag, Kathua, Srinagar and Udhampur as well as nine barracks costing Rs.9.85 crore constructed for Gamma Unit during the year 2002-2006 were also not put to any use and thus expenditure incurred thereon was rendered infractuous.
As a matter of fact, the Department is supposed to conduct survey of forest areas and demarcate the existing forests by putting-up permanent boundary pillars which besides discouraging encroachments, seals the forest area, which is otherwise prone to grazing. It has been noticed that against the target of 64,000 pillars set for erection with an outlay of Rs.4 crore, only 20,705 pillars had been erected during the period at a cost of Rs.1.42 crore. Slow pace of work has encouraged encroachments and allowed grazing without any restrictions. Besides the Department does not have a long-term policy for resin extraction and sale. A test-check of records by the audit has revealed that the auction for sale of resin crop was held in 2006 and the highest bid of Rs.41.58 per kilogram was accepted. Later the same resin was sold at Rs.25.99 per kilogram against the offered rate of Rs.41.58 per kilogram, resulting in loss of Rs.1.16 crore to the State Exchequer.
“If the State functionaries enter into nexus with the sharks of society, God alone can protect the public assets. It is alleged that the custodians of the green wealth organize felling of trees in forests and in the process the State suffers loss not only on account of green wealth, but faces ecological imbalance. Moreover, no one can dare to trespass into forest area until and unless one enjoys patronage of the officials. How can people set-up Band Saw Mills in the forests and resort to random felling of green trees for conversion into furniture if they do not enjoy the protection from the officials. It is further noticed that there is no honest effort for plantation to maintain balance. If one tree is cut down, the officials should have planted two more and this way the size and volume of trees would not diminish as has happened to our forests today. Our forests possess medicinal plants which are of high value, but these are allegedly passing into the hands of the concerned dealers,” said a group of elderly persons of Kashmir Valley.
Hence people demand implementation of judicial directives and buttressing of Forest Protection Force to control damages. It becomes, therefore, obligatory on the part of the officials of Forest Department to uphold and follow directions issued by the Supreme Court of India and do not allow any Band Saw Mill to operate in the forests. The officials should go for demarcation of forests to stop encroachments and grazing. Besides Forest Protection Force needs to be strengthened and reinforced to make it effective to fight the menace of smuggling. The earlier this is done the bet!
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