HYDERABAD, Oct 19: The cutting of 7,000 trees in the Gondi forest prompted a strong reaction from the district nazim, Kanwar Naveed Jamil, who directed the authorities concerned to lodge an FIR against the accused and said that he will contact the Sindh chief minister to get rid of the black sheep in the forest department.

He said this during a visit to Gondi forest on Thursday.

Chief conservator of forest Lekh Raj Keela, project director for Sindh forestry development, Aijaz Nizamani, district forest officer Wasif Ali Shah and other officials were present there.

The nazim said that trees are the friends of humans and a great bulwark against pollution and added that cutting of trees was not only inhuman but also a criminal act. He said that the forestry was being encouraged throughout the world and deforestation at such a large scale was a matter of grave concern.

He directed the chief conservator to file an FIR against the accused immediately so that legal action could be taken against them.

The nazim severely criticised the performance of the forest department and warned that he will speak to the Sindh chief minister to get rid of the lethargic, irresponsible and corrupt people in the department.

He said cutting of trees at such a large scale was not possible without connivance of officials of the department.

He pointed out that Sindh government had spent a huge amount on planting these trees on 100 acres of land under the Sindh Forestry Development Project out of which 7,000 trees spread over 27 acres of land had been chopped down illegally which could not be condoned.

CANAL CLEANING: A 25-member task force has been constituted by the DCO Aftab Ahmed Khatri to ensure cleaning and rehabilitation of Wadhu Wah in the first phase of beautification programme by November 10.

The task force was constituted at a meeting held on Friday, especially to discuss rehabilitation and beautification of the historic Wadhu Wah.

Khatri said due to an irresponsible attitude of the concerned officers, Wadhu Wah, gateway to Hyderabad was being used for dumping garbage.

He directed the Irrigation Department, the HDA, Wasa, the TMA and the DDO Revenue Qasimabad to undertake joint efforts in keeping it clean permanently.

The 25 members of the task force include representatives of the TMA Qasimabad, Project Housing, the HDA, Wasa, the DDO Revenue and Irrigation Department.

He directed completion of work by the specified date and asked Departmental heads to personally supervise the work. He said once the spadework was completed, a new plan will be chalked out.

Taking notice of encroachments on Wadhu Wah, the DCO directed the TMA Qasimabad to not only remove them but also serve notices on shopkeepers and the residents of nearby localities not to dispose of garbage in Wadhu Wah. He warned against taking action against violators.

Those who attended the meeting included, Irrigation Engineer Abdul Qadir Palijo, Wasa Engineer Muzaffar Memon, Assistant Director HDA and Building Control, Nadeem Memon, the TMA Qasimabad and other officials.