Ajay Sharma
Sunderbani, January 15: Exposing tall claims of the concerned authorities of preserving forests, the relentless destruction of forested lands in the Sunderbani region goes unabated, wherein the forest officials are allegedly accused of being complicit in deforestation activities.
According to sources, some forest department officials are accused to be complicit in the deforestation activities.
The region, including Panchayat Nala, Makol Mandir, and areas near Panchayat Ghar, all falling under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department Division Noushera, with administrative oversight from Rajouri.
“A recent incident involving the operation of heavy machinery, including a JCB, in these forested areas has highlighted the extent of deforestation and potential administrative negligence, ” said sources, adding that despite the close proximity of forest department quarters to the affected sites, no immediate action was taken to stop the illegal activities.
“How is it possible that employees living just 200 meters away were unaware of machinery operating in the jungle?” questioned sources.
Following public outcry and media coverage, the range officer and the former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Noushera reportedly acknowledged the incident, they took limited action to remove the machinery.
However, questions remain about why no arrests were made and how the equipment was brought into the protected area in the first place.
Sources revealed that the Block Development Office and the Rural Engineering Wing had planned to construct a bridge in the forested area of culvert.
” Despite being under forest department jurisdiction, no proper permissions appear to have been granted for the project,” said sources, adding that year earlier, crate work in the same region had been halted following intervention by the then-DFO and range officer.
The situation has exposed a pattern of inaction, political pressure, and possible collusion within the forest department.
Senior officials, including the Chief Conservator of Forests and Commissioner Forest Sheetal Nanda, have been urged by to investigate the matter thoroughly.
“This isn’t the first time such incidents have occurred, but it must be the last,” said a resident, expressing frustration over repeated violations. “The forest department plants trees on every festival for photo-ops, but who is accountable for the trees being cut down?”
Despite numerous calls to the Conservator Forest, he was not available for comments.
