Govt urged to check illegal cutting of trees

MANSEHRA: Urging the officials concerned to check illegal cutting of trees, the residents of Jarad area in Kaghan valley on Thursday revealed that timber smugglers having links with some local forest officials were involved in deforestation in the area.

“The timber smugglers have been cutting trees in the local forest compartment. And the illegal activities continued despite numerous complaints,” Mohammad Siddique, a resident of Jarad, told reporters here.

Accompanied by a group of locals, he said that timber smugglers had been destroying forests in parts of Jarad for several months, but no legal action had been taken against them.“The illegal cutting of high-quality deodar trees is ongoing in the Jarad Guzara Forest Compartment No 1 and no action has been taken against the wrongdoers despite complaints from locals,” said Siddique.

Another local, Mohammad Naseer, explained that a large number of trees had been chopped down in the Dohar area during the widening of the Manor valley road, and the timber was shifted to the Jarad forest division.

“We provided undeniable evidence to the divisional forest officer in Kaghan, but no one has been held accountable so far despite the inquiry,” he added.Mohammad Farooq, another local, pointed out that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had imposed a complete ban on the cutting and transporting of trees across the province. Nevertheless, illegal tree-cutting continues unabated in the Kaghan Forest Division.

“The timber smugglers, in collusion with forest officials, have been shattering the environment in Kaghan valley. The chief conservator should launch an inquiry and ensure that all those involved in the deforestation are brought to justice,” he added.