ANP, Chitral district president Syed Muzafar Ali Shah Jan has demanded of the government to take action against the timber mafia

No check on timber mafia

CHITRAL, July 2: ANP, Chitral district president Syed Muzafar Ali Shah Jan has demanded of the government to take action against the timber mafia for denuding the district of forest cover.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said the timber mafia had illegally harvested 60,000 cubic feet of deodar from the compartment no 32 of Arandu.

Mr Shah said the illegally cut timber had been dumped in upper Langur Bat near Damil.

The ANP leader alleged that the timber smugglers had the support of the Forest Development Corporation.

He said two months ago an ANP worker was shot and injured by timber smugglers when he informed the forest department of illegal cutting of trees in compartments 5 and 6 of Arandu Gol.

“The joint forest management committees have been rendered ineffective as the timber mafia is so strong,” he said. —Correspondent