An axe to grind

This summer I went trekking in the Pir Panjaal mountains with some friends. On our way down from Bargah, located at an altitude of 4,200 metres, we came across forests around Frasnag. Falling within the Doodh Ganga forest range, we found that the trees here had been completely vandalised. According to local migratory communities in the area, timber smugglers were responsible for most of the damage to the forest.

Kail (Kairoo) trees are the prime target for the timber smugglers—it fetches them good money. Significant damage has been inflicted on these trees, with more than 2,000 trees being cut between March and August this year. Damage to these forests has been rampant since the abrogation of Article 370 last year (due to the complete lockdown and communication blockade in the region).

Forest officials in the area claim that they cannot protect the trees because of a lack of manpower and weapons to stop the smugglers. But locals suspect that certain officials are also involved, and are tasked with burning the tree stumps so that they look like old, axed trees. In addition to this, black tea, acid, and motor oil are also used to get rid of evidence after trees are chopped down.

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is the founder and chairman of Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement.

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