Illegal felled green trees worth millions of rupees forfeited

Monday, July 08, 2013 - Chitral—Forest department took action against illicit cutting of green trees of Deodar, Kail and Fir. According to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Chitral Shaukat Fiaz a fake joint forest management committee (JFMC) had been organized by Noor Shahiden son of Bahrma Shah Kalash chairman of JFMC with fake signature of other members from the same locality which had registered by forest department in past on the direction of Noor Shahideen. Source told to DFO Chitral that some 43 green trees of Deodar, Kail and Fir have been cut illegally accomplice with Forest Development Corporation (FDC). On the direction of Chief Conservator Hashim Ali Khan and conservator Shah Wazir DFO Chitral detailed Ehsanuddin Sub Divisional Forest officer and Fazal Khaliq SDFO as inquiry officers who went to forest of Achulgah compartment No 9 & 10. During inspection of inquiry committee it was proved that 143 Green Deodar, Kail and Fir trees have been cut illicitly consisting on 187540 cusec feet causing of millions of rupees loss to forest department. 

DFO Chitral told this scribe that concerned people involved in this crime would be fined 1000 per tree as well as after assessment its market value another fine would be charged upon them as more than five times of its market value. He said that Sub divisional forest officer Muhammad Yousaf, Muhammad Rahim forester and Ahmad Baig are involved in this gang and legal action would be taken against them. 

He said those illicit cut green trees were taken in custody by Forest department. He said that only wind fall and dry standing tree can be cut according to 2004 forest policy and green tree in not allow at any cost to be cut illicit. He said that Abdul Hadi a local person had complained to policeregarding fake and illegal JFMC of Noor Shahideen and police also investigating the case regarding fraud case and legal action would be also taken against Noor Shahideen, Maik Shahi, Sirajuddin as well as Saifur Rehman Deputy Forest Manager and Assistant forest manager who also involve in this gang. Pakistan Observer