Forests are known as the lungs of Earth because they absorb Carbon Dioxide and release Oxygen to the atmosphere. According to the forest department, Jammu and Kashmir have 20,230 square Kilometres of the area covered with forest while district Doda has 5,555 square kilometre area noted as forests. But due to deforestation, we are losing the forests day by day and it is not so far that the Earth lose their lungs. Deforestation is its peak in district Doda also but the concerned department is in a deep slumber.
On 28 June 2020, our Chenab Times team visited the upper hills of tehsil Kahara, where we found hundreds of trees lying down on the ground in our single day visit in the forests. If this happens continuously after some years, we would have nothing in the name of the forests here. People use chainsaws/cutters, these cutters cut a number of trees in a day. In far-flung areas, most of the people make timber smuggling as a source of income and the concerned department ignored that which looks like they have joined hands with them.
On 22 March 2020, timber smuggling in Tanta village of Kahara tehsil in Doda district reported by Lazawal (Urdu newspaper) and on 30 June 2020, another case of timber smuggling reported in village Dharawari in tehsil Bhalessa on JK Dastaan. These issues are highlighted but there were many other reports which is not highlighted due to some corrupt officials in forest department. According to a journalist (name held) in Bhalessa, some officials from forests officials offered bribe to him but when he refused to accept it, they started threatening him.
If the official do such cheap things, how will the corruption stops. Our forests will be bald off due to the loot of green gold by the corruption officials. As forests are known as Green Gold. If departments and administration will not take necessary actions this will result the same like “India was known as Golden Bird” and forests will remain an adage like it.
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Managing Editor and Senior Photojournalist at The Chenab Times
