Staff Correspondent
CHITRAL: The district administration and Forest Department have launched a joint operation against illegal timber transportation in Lower Chitral, seizing vehicles loaded with illegally harvested wood.
The illegal timber operation was conducted on the directives of Deputy Commissioner Ehsanullah. The wood pieces were confiscated, while cases were registered against the drivers and suspects under the Forest Ordinance. The suspects were later transferred to jail, according to the district administration.
The deputy commissioner has directed the relevant departments to continue uninterrupted action against tree cutting and timber smuggling under a zero-tolerance policy.
The district administration has also urged the public to report incidents of logging or timber smuggling through the inbox of its official social media page or the deputy commissioner’s control room.
Officials said public cooperation would help strengthen efforts to protect the region’s forest resources and curb illegal timber transportation.
Recent reports have indicated large stocks of timber from illegal cutting of trees in different areas of Lower Chitral, especially Arandu Gol, with mafia trying to transport it out of Chitral for sale.
The timber mafia in collusion with the officials concerned have destroyed green forests in Chitral despite government claim of imposing a ban on it.
Apart from illegally felling green trees, timber smugglers have also been accused of depriving local communities of their rightful share of forest royalty funds.
Communities had in the past filed complaints with deputy commissioner’s office regarding alleged irregularities in royalty payments from timber lots auctioned at Chakdara depot.
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