Efforts on to trace out involved persons, Says DFO
A joint team of the Forest department and the Forest Protection Force (FPF) recovered and seized about 22 cft of illicit timber from Najwan forest in Kangan.
Sources said logs of Deodar were illegally cut by the smugglers from Compartments of Najwan belt of Sindh Forest Range here.
An official said, acting on a tip off, FPF and the officials of the Forest department from Control Room Ganderbal jointly under the leadership of inspector Abbas Ahmed during night patrol intercepted a tata mobile loaded with illicit timber at around 3 am.
They said that team managed to seize the vehicle along with timber around 22 cfts, however, involved persons managed to escape from the spot.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sindh Forest Division, Ganderbal, Owais Mir said, “A joint team of the Forest department and FPF has been constituted to keep a vigil on the forests and act immediately on receiving reports about smuggling of timber.”
He said that during the past six months, over one dozen FIRs had been registered under the Forest Act and action taken against the miscreants involved in illegal felling of trees.
Mir said the field staff had been directed to be alert and mobilise all sources to stop the illegal snuggling
He claimed that investigations have been launched and an important clue has already been found which will lead to their identification and subsequently FIR will be lodged.
He further said that RO has submitted the case in Authorized Officer Forum for departmental action.
