MINGORA: The residents of Sulatanr area have shown anger over illegal cutting of forests in Charma and demanded of the government to take action against the timber mafia.

They alleged that some of the influential people in collaboration with the local forest guards chopped many trees at the forest in Charma area. “We complained about illegal cutting of trees in the forest several times and every time the forest department assured us of taking action against the timber mafia but practically no action was taken against them,” said Mohammad Karam, a local resident and social activist.

The residents of the area said that illegal cutting of trees left their forest thin. They said that the forest would be no more if the timber mafia remained active there. They said that the timber mafia was influential and common people could not raise voice against it.

“Although for short time officials of the forest department come in action and take some steps to stop cutting of trees, yet after sometimes they disappear and the illegal chopping begins,” said elders of the area. The social activists questioned the claims of provincial government about saving forests and growing new trees. “This is strange that provincial government repeatedly claims about controlling illegal cutting but practically no proper steps have been taken to control the timber mafia,” said Yahya Khan, who visited the area with friends.

The social activists and local residents said that they would soon stage protest against the illegal cutting if forest department and other relevant departments failed to take action against the people involved in illegal cutting of trees.

Mohammad Iqbal, the district forest officer, when contacted, said that forest officials in the area guarded the forest and stopped illegal cutting of trees. He said that an inquiry was initiated and legal action would be taken against the people involved in illegal cutting of trees.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2018