Crackdown: Five men held, fined for extracting gum

MITHI: The forest department is cracking down on people illegally extracting resin from Gugral trees. Five men have been arrested so far.

The operation was started after the media reported that workers hired by influential men were extracting resin artificially from these trees by making cuts in the wood and using poisonous chemicals. This causes the trees to dry up within six months.

On  Tuesday, a team led by Divisional Forest Officer Khalid Hussain Ghumro and Range Forest Officer Ahmed Shah raided the area near Lunihar village and arrested contractor Usman Dars, Jumo Khoso and three others under Section 26 of the Forest Act, 1927. The men were released after paying a fine of Rs10,000 and submitting a written promise that they would stay away from the trees.

The stolen gum is transported to Karachi and sold at Rs30,000 to Rs40,000 per 40kg, which has made it a lucrative business.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2011.