Felling ‘Far Beyond Permit’ in Protected Category, Whistleblower Alleges Forest–Contractor Nexus — Viral Video Triggers Alarm
Ajay Sharma
Reasi, February 6: In an apparent case of number manipulation, the illegal cutting of Khair trees in the Pouni Range of Reasi Forest Division is reportedly so rampant that it far exceeds official permissions. Khair is a protected tree species in Jammu & Kashmir, and its cutting is banned except with due permission from the competent forest authority — a safeguard that is now at the center of the alleged scam.
According to a whistleblower, what began as sanctioned harvesting has allegedly ballooned into a large-scale operation involving contractors and allegedly complicit forest and law enforcement personnel, with felling said to be taking place far beyond the permitted number of trees, depleting vast stretches of forest and state land. A related video of the alleged large-scale cutting is also viral on social media.
“The issue points to systemic corruption that has drawn calls for intervention from the highest levels of government, including the Lieutenant Governor and the Anti-Corruption Bureau,” the whistleblower said, adding that the Forest Department recently obtained permission to cut Khair trees in areas like the Pouni–Taap Mundi road stretch and towards Barakti.
However, the actual felling has reportedly gone far beyond authorized limits — forming the core of the alleged scam.
“If the permission is for 500 trees in a village, 2,000 trees were cut from there,” claimed the whistleblower, asserting that trees are being felled without proper prior marking, numbering, or sanctions — even inside protected forest closures — despite Khair being a protected species requiring strict procedural clearance.
The scale of the operation is underscored by reports of contractors transporting timber overnight in vehicles such as Bolero and Alto cars, the whistleblower maintained.
A recent incident reportedly involved the seizure of such vehicles loaded with Khair wood following tips from media personnel and senior officials.
“Many cars of contractors have left overnight,” the whistleblower stated, adding that routes like Jammu via Jheri or Malad Jheri are deliberately chosen to evade police check posts.
“Why not via the Katra or Bhambla route? Because maybe there are honest officers there who could catch them,” the whistleblower questioned.
Specific areas mentioned include Bharak to Mundi road, Gajod village, Sudeen, Panchayat Kothis, and Bandrai road, where permissions for 1,500 trees allegedly resulted in thousands more being cut.
“The entire Pouni area was cut. There is no one to ask,” the whistleblower said, alleging that the unabated felling — despite Khair’s protected status — points to a purported nexus within the Forest Department and enforcement setup.
The whistleblower further stated that the Block Officer (BO), Range Officer, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chief Conservator of Forests, Conservator, and Principal Secretary — despite reportedly being aware of the alleged loot — have turned a blind eye.
“If the senior officer is honest, then the junior officer cannot be corrupt,” the whistleblower said, adding, “The DFO is sitting quietly. The Chief Forest has also become quiet.”
Whistleblowers also alleged that inquiries are often backdated or biased in favor of the department.
“Immediately after that, a backdated enquiry will be filed,” the whistleblower claimed, criticizing the involvement of the protection force in probes that allegedly yield favorable reports.
Meanwhile, the whistleblower said that local communities have submitted written complaints to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, demanding tree-by-tree audits and verification of permissions versus actual trees felling on the ground.
