Security, other constraints create hurdles in checking damage
77 cases registered under Indian Forest Act
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 11: Admitting illegal felling of trees in Chiralla range of Bhaderwah before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Doda district administration has held security and other constraints responsible for the same. However, it has claimed that a well-knit strategy has been chalked out to prevent further damage to the green wealth of the area.
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EXCELSIOR in its edition dated November 27, 2024 had reported illegal felling of hundreds of trees in Bhaderwah area of Doda and while exercising the power to take suo-moto cognizance, the NGT registered Original Application (OA) on the basis of the news-item.
On December 13, 2024, the NGT impleaded Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, J&K, Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and District Magistrate Doda as respondents with the direction to file reply/response.
In the reply furnished to the green panel, the District Magistrate Doda has mentioned that a total of 77 cases of illegal felling from May 2024 to November 2024 were reported in Forest Compartment Nos.3, 5 and 6 of Jai 1st Block in Chiralla range of Bhaderwah Forest Division and all the cases were formally registered under Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927. In these cases, a total of 133 trees were damaged.
“The security and topographical challenges are behind these incidents of illegal felling. These factors have come to the fore during the detailed analysis carried out by the Doda district administration in close coordination with the Forest Department”, the District Magistrate has mentioned in the reply.
Pointing towards Jai 1st Block, the administration said that various factors like extreme geographic isolation, rugged terrain with severely limited connectivity etc pose exceptional challenges for conservation. “The region has historically served as a strategic flashpoint during counter-insurgency operations due to persistent militancy concerns. Most recently, the forest area designated as Kota Top in Compartment No. 3 witnessed an extensive military operation due to which the movement of forest staff was restricted taking into consideration their safety and security”, the administration added.
“The front-line staff of the Forest Department faces uphill task in the compartment regarding its conservation. Further, the security agencies have time and again instructed the forest staff not to patrol the area independently citing security issues due to which the movement of the forest personnel has been severely affected”, the administration further said, adding “severe winter conditions also create hurdles in conservation efforts”.
“In spite of these challenges, the Forest Department and District Administration have implemented decisive measures to combat fresh illicit tree felling in the affected area, including strict legal actions against offenders under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and PSA, enhanced surveillance through additional Forest Department and Forest Protection Force personnel, requests for further reinforcements, comprehensive eco-restoration proposals, disciplinary action against officials etc”, the reply said.
Against 77 cases of illegal felling, legal proceedings have been initiated in 35 cases under Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 while as five cases have been compounded and two cases have been forwarded to the Revenue authorities for action under J&K Preservation of Specified Trees Act. Likewise, 35 cases have been forwarded to the authorized officer for confiscation under Section 52 of the Indian Forest Act.
“Cognizance under Public Safety Act, ban on mechanical cutters, establishment of joint patrolling team, disciplinary action against officers for failing to perform duties to protect forests etc are the other steps taken by the district administration and Forest Department”, the reply said.
The NGT has been informed that Forest Department and the district administration are taking due cognizance in the matter and have implemented strategic intervention framework combining strict legal enforcement, field level operational measures and institutional accountability to tackle the issue of illicit felling despite challenging geographical isolation, security threats, extreme weather conditions, and critical staff shortages etc.
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