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Cutting of trees on the rise in NWFP
MINGORA, April 4: Cutting of trees continues
unabated in the upper parts of Malakand, as the
authorities concerned have failed to check this
illegal activity.
After ruthlessly cutting the trees the timber
mafia sell them at throw-away prices causing a
huge loss to the national exchequer, officials and
locals said.
The trees which are cut in the upper parts of Swat
are supplied to other districts of the NWFP
through different routes on daily basis, but the
officials are least bothered to take action
against the mafia.
When contacted, a timber merchant said that the
illegal timber was in rare cases confiscated and
that too in case the smugglers failed to strike
bargain with the officials.
It has been observed that the trucks carrying
illegal timber were impounded only on way to other
districts, but the authorities in different
districts of Malakand are never questioned about
how the vehicles crossed the checkpoints.
It is very unfortunate that all the people,
including the personnel of police and forest
department are alleged to be in collusion with the
timber smugglers. The locals allege that the
officials always tried to get facilities, without
bothering about the massive deforestation.
The mafia people are also said to be very
influential because they often block action
against them.
One of the main reasons of increasing the
activities of the timber mafia is stated to be
pressure from the politicians who support their
men even if they were involved in timber smuggling
or other illegal activities.
The timber mafia has recently targeted the forests
on both sides of the Swat river. These include the
forests of Shagram, Morpandai, Marghazar valley,
Kalam, Madyan, Behrain, Matta, Fazil Banda, Ghari,
Sakhra, Beha, Ruringar, Lalko, Utror, Ushu, Gabral,
Mian Bela, Tall and Dardyal. The forests of Buner
district have also been cut ruthlessly. The
forests of Eelum, Gukand, Jambel and Kokarai have
almost vanished.
An inquiry commission's report, which was
submitted to a local court, about 600 trees had
been cut in the Parona area only by one person,
but the authorities have failed to take action in
this regard.
The trees cut in the forests of Dwasar are brought
to the Mingora city via Sodher and Manglawar.
The smugglers use different methods to bring trees
cut in the forests of Kalam, which are at a
distance of about 70 kilometres from Mingora.
Mostly, the smugglers use the river Swat for
transportation of the logs through rubber tubes.
Shin, Khwazakhela and other roadside villages are
the main spots where the timber logs are loaded on
to the rubber tubes.
In some areas, the Afghans are also very active
cutting the trees. They are involved in cutting
young trees and use them as firewood.
Besides, the owners of saw machines, which are
installed in the urban areas, clearly violate the
forest laws.
The DAWN |
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Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
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