Tree slaughter: The Murree hills chainsaw massacre

Connivance of forest officials in illegal logging alleged.

MURREE:

With the onset of winter, illegal logging in Murree has moved up a gear, further degrading the environment in the area. However, the forest department remains a silent spectator.

This illegal practice is going on in different union councils (UC) including, Angoori, Daryagali, Kalimatti, Ghoragali, Pagwari, Cheekagali, Masoot and some areas which fall under Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa such as Nathiagali, a forested area where loggers are even more active.

The trees which were chopped include pine, cedar, kikar, cheer and tali. Tali is used as fuel in the winter season and the others are smuggled to different parts of the country to be used for construction work and making furniture.

Sources in the Murree forest department said that logging is done at night in connivance with the forest department officials. “All this happens with the consent of the forest officials...it is not possible without their blessings,” he said.

He added that some officials have been working in the same area for many years and the department does not transfer them, which also contributes to this illegal practice.

“Foresters who are deputed in some areas play a big role during this illegal activity as they facilitate the loggers in return for bribes,” an official said.

Sources revealed that at least 11 unregistered chainsaw mills were functioning in Murree.

Murree District Forest Officer (DFO) Javed Gill claimed that in the last two years, 47 First Information Reports (FIR) were registered against those involved in illegal logging.

He claimed that there was a decrease in illegal logging in Muree because the government had banned the use of wood in building construction.

When asked about the allegedly greased palms of lower staff in the forest department, he said that the department took strict action against them and cited the example of an officer who was recently suspended after being found guilty of taking bribes.

However Gill accepted that there was not a single chainsaw mill registered in Murree, while pointing out that the Forest Act 1927 was revived in 2011, and after its approval, stern action would be taken against parties using these machines.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2011.