Alarm over dwindling forests in Doda

From Saidullah Rangrez DODA, May 6: If unabated felling of green gold in Marmat forests of Doda district has raised an alarm among educated youth then State Forest Ministry hitherto has not contemplated any foolproof mechanism to check the malpractice.

Demanding demarcation of forestland, particularly in compartment numbers 11, 12, 55 and 56 in Marmat range where huge damage has been done to the green gold, the youth of the Marmat area has urged the government to take drastic measures to save Marmat forests.

Reports said, hundreds of Deodar, Kail and Fur trees were razed to ground in the recent past by timber wood smugglers in Behota, Mangota, Muthi and Labber areas with field staff playing facilitator instead of being a deterrent.

When contacted Range Officer Marmat while shirking his responsibility said, "Damage was done at the behest of previous Range Officer".

A year back some educated youth of Marmat while realizing fast depleting forests and consequent repercussions on ecological balance had approached DFO Batote, who reacted promptly and set up some enclosures at various places to save the forests.

Despite efforts of the DFO an enclosure in Khellani has bore the brunt of timber wood smugglers as staff at the lower level were allegedly hand-in-glove with the timber wood mafia, which rules the roost.