Timber Smugglers set Khrew forests on fire
Locals Allege Nexus With Officials, Police
ARIF SHAFI WANI
Khrew (Pulwama), Mar 26: A major fire has engulfed the forests of the Khrew Wildlife Conservation Reserve during the past three days here destroying many trees and affecting the wildlife. However the locals blame the timber smugglers for putting the forests on fire to camouflage the illicit felling of trees. The wildlife authorities have ordered an inquiry into the matter and recommended transfer of the concerned forester.
The locals said the fire started in forests at Betdalav and Khudalav on Saturday and gradually destroyed countless Kail trees there. Thick bellows of smoke emanating from the forests has engulfed the entire saffron town and its adjoining areas.
“The fire in the forests is the handiwork of notorious timber smugglers and some unscrupulous forest officials. They burn stumps of the trees to wipe out evidence against them. Ironically, the authorities act as mute spectator to vandalization of the forests,” the locals told Greater Kashmir.
The locals warned this reporter and the accompanying photojournalist not to wander alone in the forests as it was “full of dangerous smugglers,” and volunteered to accompany us. “The irony is that a few decades ago we used to fear the wild animals, and now the smugglers. The smugglers have no mercy for the trees and we don’t expect them to respect humans,” a local youth said.
On way to the forests at Betdalav, the smugglers have marked many trees for felling. Before felling a tree, the locals said the smugglers cut its bark so that its sap gets leaked. Gradually, the tree becomes dry and is easy to cut.
The locals said the felled trees are ferried into the villagers during night. “There is an organised group of timber smugglers active in the area. They bribe some forest officials and openly fell the trees. However, we wonder how the smugglers enjoy free movement during the nights when troops are on high alert. They recently shot dead a bear when it was moving in the forests. It seems the smugglers have nexus with the troops and policemen,” they said.
An aged man wishing anonymity said the vandalization of the forest started after 1995. “The forest was stronghold of militants and nobody dared to go there. After they were killed, the forests turned into a safe haven for smugglers. If the government was serious, let it stop further felling of the trees for our future generations at least,” he said.
The forest officials have their own tale: “We are helpless to act against the smugglers in absence of any security. The smugglers threatened us of dire consequences if we don’t allow them to fell the trees,” a lower rung forest official, wishing anonymity, said.
The locals fear that fire in the Khrew Wildlife Conservation Reserve can spread to the adjoining the Dachigam National Park. “The fire had affected movement of the Kashmiri Stag from Dachigam to the Reserve. Before the fire we spotted many stags in the forests. However they have vanished now,” the locals said.
The wildlife warden central, Rashid Naqash told Greater Kashmir that an inquiry has been ordered in the matter. “We want to know the cause of the frequent fires in the forest range and will take action against the officials if their involvement was ascertained. Meanwhile, I have recommended suspension of the concerned forester and withheld the salary of his staff, till the inquiry was completed.” “We had almost controlled the fire in the Khrew range, however due to strong winds from Tral it has again started. Our men are on the spot to douse the fire,” Naquash said.
(UPDATE – THE FIRE WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL AFTER FOUR DAYS.)