STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU:A team of Forest Department officials on Monday seized two vehicles loaded with firewood and dismantled two electric poles erected in Forest Land besides seizing six supports and six clamps. According to Forest Department handout, working on a tip-off regarding illegal movement of Forest Produces, a team of Forest Officials headed by Ajit Chander Range Officer Bahu along with anti encroachment team laid a Naka near SIDCO Complex Bari Brahmana and seized a vehicle (JK02C-3896) loaded with firewood of Broad leave species coming towards SIDCO Complex Bari Brahmana. The driver of the vehicle namely Bablu Singh, son of Chaman Singh resident of Smailpur failed to produce any valid document regarding transportation of firewood. During the preliminary enquiry the driver of the vehicle stated that the firewood is taken to M/S Gulab Din Saw Mill owned by Sadiq Hussain, son of Gulab Din, resident of Badori. The team to curb forest produce smuggling was constituted by Dr. V.S. Senthil Kumar Divisional Forest Officer, Jammu to work under his supervision.
Meanwhile, during a Naka near village Jhung, the Forest officials’ team seized a vehicle (JK02-6627) loaded with firewood of broad leave species. The driver of the vehicle namely Anil Kumar, son of Bodh Raj, resident of Bandrali Tehsil and District Samba have failed to produce any valid document and stated that the firewood is taken to M/S Mailk Saw Mill Dhamore owned by Nazir Hussain, son of Mohd Israil, resident of Dhamore Tehsil and District Samba. Both the Vehicles were seized under section 26 of J&K Forest Act, (Amended 1997). The Range Officer, Bahu had also filed both the cases before the Authorised Officer, Jammu Forest Division for initiating of confiscation proceedings. Accordingly the Authorized Officer has initiated confiscation proceedings in the cases under section 26 of J&K Forest Act, (Amended 1997).
Apart from this, a team of Forest field staff of Bahu Forest Range has dismantled and seized two electric poles, along with six supports and six clamps which were illegally erected on the Forest Land in Compartment 51/D at Shama da-talab by PDD.
DFO Jammu said that the case has been registered for violation of Sections 6, 15, 16, 36A and 39 of J&K Forest Act
and Range Officer Bahu is entrusted for further investigation of this case. He however appealed to the traders in general to refrain from illegal trading of Forest Produces.
