Truth will come out!
- Dheeraj Gupta IAS The Principal Secretary to the Government Forest, Ecology & Environment Department ordered for detailed enquiry to unearth the truth.
- DFO Jammu Forest Division Transferred, Range Officer Kalidhar Attached
- Recommends transfer of revenue officials upto Tehsildar level who are concerned with the Thandi Choi for supporting the illegal felling, besides cancelling and expunging of all illegal mutations of Forest land by the concerned Deputy Commissioners within a period of three months.
jj correspondent
Jammu, Aug 08: The Principal Secretary to the Government Forest, Ecology & Environment Department Dheeraj Gupta IAS has taken strict action after examining the two different reports being submitted by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Jammu & Kashmir over the illegal felling and cutting of trees and Khair trees in Thandi Choi in Kalidhar Range.
The Principal Secretary after examining the report of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest/HoFF, J&K bearing No PCCF/Coord/Khair-III/2023-24/1451 dated 13-04-2023 and Preliminary Enquiry Report submitted by Inquiry Committee vide No PCCF/CAMPA/2023-24/1344/1187 dated 18-05-2023 has accorded the sanction for detailed inquiry to look into the complaints into the alleged illegal cutting/felling of Khair trees in village Thandi Choi of Kalidhar Range, Jammu Forest Division, and its adjoining areas by the committee of officers already constituted vide Government order No 99-JK(FST) of 2023 dated 26-04-2023.
The committee after detailed inquiry about the illegal cutting/felling of Khair trees in village Thandi Choi and its adjoining areas on the basis of records and detailed field inspection. The committee will submit its report within a period of three months but it will give due opportunity of being heard to all the concerned and also fix individual responsibilities. The order was issued vide Government order No 161-JK(FST) of 2023 dated 08-08-2023.
Whereas the government has transferred the DFO Jammu Forest Division Mr Anup Soni and posted as Deputy Conservator of Forests Wildlife Department J&K and his transferred is linked with the inquiry. Whereas, Mr Suresh Manda DFO Poonch is transferred and posted as DFO Jammu replacing Mr Soni and DFO Social Forestry Poonch will look after the charge of DFO Poonch till further orders. The transfers were made vide Government order No 162-JK(FST) of 2023 dated 08-08-2023.
Vide Government order No 163-JK(FST) of 2023 dated 08-08-2023, the government has attached the Pawan Sharma I/C Range Officer Kalidhar with PCCF/HoFF J&K till the enquiry would be completed or it is pending. In place of Pawan Sharma Mohd Rafiq Range Officer Gandhari Batote has been posted and Rajinder Singh Parihar I/C Range Officer Gool will hold the charge of Range Officer Gandhari Batote.
The Forest department vide its letter No FST-PCB/7/2021-02 dated 08-08-2023 has recommended transfers of the revenue officers upto Tehsildar level who are concerned with the Thandi Choi for supporting the illegal felling, besides cancelling and expunging of all illegal mutations of Forest land by the concerned Deputy Commissioners within a period of three months.
The administrative department of Forest department vide its letter No FST-PCB/7/2021-02 dated 08-08-2023 has directed the PCCF & HoFF J&K to attach all the concerned Range Officers and all other subordinate officers associated with the said process immediately with the further directions to provide all assistance to the inquiry committee. Issues like demarcation and boundaries also should be taken within next three months positively.
