CHITRAL: Elders from Arandu and Damail have urged the government, Pakistan Army and police to take strict action against the timber mafia.
They also demanded a fair distribution of forest royalty and protection for residents who speak up for their rights.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Malik Muhammad Ishaq Wardag, Hazratuddin, Ibad Khan, Roz Muhammad Khan, Siddiqullah, Zahir Khan, Aman Khan and Javed Khan said the timber mafia had been depriving local communities of their rights for years.
They alleged that residents who raised their voices against the illegal practices were being threatened with serious consequences.
The elders claimed that around 1.5 million cubic feet of timber had been extracted from the forests of Arandu Gol over the past five to six years. They estimated the total value of the timber at more than Rs12 billion.
However, they said the local population had received little benefit from the forest royalty.
According to the elders, around 98 per cent of the local population had been deprived of their rightful share. They alleged that royalty payments were being distributed among only two per cent of influential and favoured individuals.
They said Arandu and Damail had a combined population of more than 11,000 people and demanded a transparent system to ensure that all eligible residents receive their due share.
The elders called on the government to adopt the same royalty distribution mechanism recently implemented in Kalaktak and Beori villages of Lower Chitral.
They said former Lower Chitral Deputy Commissioner Rao Hashim Azeem had ensured the distribution of royalty among the entire local population despite pressure from the timber mafia.
They urged the authorities to apply a similar transparent formula in Arandu and Damail.
The elders said fair distribution of forest royalty among the more than 11,000 residents could help reduce poverty and improve living conditions in the area.
They also expressed serious concerns over the security of local residents. They alleged that an organised group linked to the timber mafia was harassing and threatening people demanding their rights.
They appealed to the Pakistan Army, provincial government and senior police officials to provide immediate protection to the affected residents.
Apart from forest royalty, the elders highlighted the poor condition of the area’s road infrastructure.
They demanded the construction and rehabilitation of the main road from Mirkhani to Arandu and Damail. They also called for the construction of link roads connecting different valleys.
They warned that failure to address their demands and stop the alleged patronage of the timber mafia would leave them with no option but to launch a strong protest.
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