Shortage In Depots Triggers Timber SmugglingTags: india overuse resources companies local people
Kupwara, Kashmir, India - The shortage of timber at forest depots in Kupwara and Handwara for past six weeks has delayed construction works and forced consumers to get timber through illegal means.
The non-availability of timber has also rendered the construction work of many government buildings including schools and Panchayat Ghars incomplete in Kupwara.
The Rural Development Department Kupwara has made a payment of about Rs 10 lakh in 2004-05 for timber to be used in construction of buildings but the department is yet to get it.
A senior officer alleged that the department of Forests was delaying the supply of timber only to sell the same at higher rates later.
He said the shortage of timber has rendered construction work of government buildings. Having sanction of hundred feet (each) of deodar and keil, at least 60 consumers of Shahlal, Gonipora, Thadipora, Wast Khora, Vandipora and Khanpora villages said that they were making rounds of Handwara for weeks now. They said that due to the shortage of timber at depots, many consumers were forced to get the timber by illegal means of smuggling.
There is no timber available at most of depots in Handwara. In February, I managed to obtain a sanction of hundred feet timber but am yet to get it. Hundreds of consumers having sanction from department are still making rounds of depots but return back dejected. The shortage of timber has forced people to turn to smuggling, said, Rafiq Ahmad Wani of Khanpora Handwara.
Residents of Sulkoote, Halmatpora, Charkote, Dardpora and Muqam in Kupwara told GK that there was no timber available at depots in Hayhama, Lolab and Zangli. These villages fall under Kamraz forest division.
The dismayed consumers said that in peak season of construction work, the shortage of timber has rendered the construction works incomplete.
The days are long and sunny and this is the peak season of construction work every where in valley but we are unable to make full use of season due to the shortage of timber. It has led to smuggling in many villages as the consumers have either turned to forests for timber or used the services of timber smugglers. The forest division Zangli is least bothered about making timber available at depots, said, Abdul Majid Khan of Hayhama, who has made payment for sanction of 100 feet timber on April 25.
Conservator of forests North Circle Sopur, Manzoor Ahmad Khan admitted that there was shortage of timber at depots and said timber would be dumped at the depots and supplied to consumers within a couple of weeks.
The officer told GK that according to a government order, the State Forest Corporation (SFC) has to supply the timber for the construction of government buildings.
The timber would be made available at the depots within two weeks as the department is in the process of making it available. In fact, the SFC has to supply the timber for government buildings and not the forest department. But the forests department was waiting for orders by the government to supply timber for the construction of school buildings, said the conservator.
The officer further said that the fallen trees (deodar and keil) due to snowfall were to be transported to forest divisions by following a proper procedure, which will take some time.
Meanwhile, minister for Forests, Qazi Muhammad Afzal today said promises made to the people by the government have been fulfilled. He was addressing people in Gogjigund Ganderbal.
© GreaterKashmir.com (India) -- 2008-06-16
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