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Probe into felling of trees
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, February 23
A well-knit forest mafia is working closely with some officials of the forest department, who are allegedly felling down dozens of Chir ( forest tree), in Mayardi village near here. This is what locals here say. They believe the forest mafia comprises 11 to 12 persons, predominantly Gujjars.

“The forest mafia fells forest trees and then dry them up in open. After that these forest trees are dumped inside the earth and covered with soil. Then firewood is placed on that soil and is set on fire. After a few days, coal is extracted from the earth and is sold in the market,” said a local source, asking not to be named.

“Each member of the mafia is earning Rs 300 on a daily basis. Some officials of the forest department have a huge involvement in illegal extraction of the coal and are working closely with the mafia. The forest officials are getting huge money for keeping a blind eye,” he adds.

Sources in the forest department confirmed that there were reports of a group of persons illegally felling forest trees in the Mayardi village for extracting coal. They added Divisional Forest Officer, Rajouri, had constituted a team headed by forester of the area for probing the matter and the team is likely to submit its report within a day or two.

Meanwhile, Range Officer, Rajouri, Jameel Khan told The Tribune that anyone found involved in illegal felling of forest trees would not be spared. “We are probing the matter and wouldn’t spare anyone found violating the Jammu and Kashmir Forest (conservation) Act,” said the Range Officer.