Forest Department’s Laxity Allows Illegal Felling, Inquiry Report Ignored: Akhnoor Case Highlights Deep-Rooted Corruption
- Social activist Atul Sudan exposed the illegal felling of Khair trees in Thandi Choi and surrounding areas, accusing Ranger Pawan Sharma of accepting bribes for facilitating the activity.
- An investigation into the alleged corruption led to the attachment of Pawan Sharma, but despite the inquiry report, he remains in his position, raising concerns about the lack of seriousness in addressing corruption within the Forest Department.
- The case highlights the potential complicity of Revenue officials, who misrepresented the forest area to facilitate the illegal felling and created opportunities for the illegal activity to continue.
- The lack of action against both Forest and Revenue officials underscores a possible culture of impunity and a disregard for environmental protection, prompting calls for immediate and severe punishment for those involved.
Mohit Mehra
Akhnoor, June 07: Despite an inquiry report and the subsequent attachment of a Range Officer, the illegal felling of Khair trees in Akhnoor’s Thandi Choi and surrounding areas continues to raise serious concerns about rampant corruption and a lack of accountability within the Forest Department.
In March 2023, social activist Atul Sudan, in a letter addressed to the Conservator of Forests, East Circle Jammu, (letter No. FST-PCB/7/2021-02) exposed the widespread illegal felling of Khair trees in Thandi Choi, Balli, Dori, Gulaba, Keri Pera, Janyal Keri, and Sainth villages under the Kalidhar Range. He alleged that Ranger Pawan Sharma, a repeat offender, was facilitating this illegal activity in exchange for bribes.
Sudan pointed to the fact that a Khair Management Plan was in place for Thandi Choi in 2022-23, but thousands of trees were felled illegally, with the connivance of Revenue Department officials who misrepresented the forest area in the village. The letter highlighted the involvement of Tehsildar Akhnoor, who allegedly misled authorities by claiming that no forest existed in Thandi Choi.
He also pointed out the illegal felling of Khair trees in Targwal (Janti Khad) where permission had not been granted, questioning how the felled trees could have been transported without being detected at multiple forest department checkpoints.
The letter also brought to light the suspicious repetition of Thandi Choi (misspelled as Chandi Choi) in consecutive cycles of the Khair Management Plan, a direct violation of Supreme Court directives. He questioned the timing and legitimacy of the grievance raised by Thandi Choi farmers that led to the repetition of the village in the management plan.
Following this complaint, a committee was constituted to investigate the matter under Government Order No. 99-JK(FST) of 2023 dated 26.04.2023. The inquiry committee submitted a preliminary report on May 18, 2023 (No. PCCF/CAMPA/2023-24/1344/1187), leading to the attachment of Pawan Sharma, Incharge Range Officer, Kalidhar Range, Jammu Forest Division, under Government Order No. 163-JK(FST) of 2023 dated 08.08.2023.
However, despite the inquiry report and the attachment, Pawan Sharma continues to enjoy the perks of his government position, raising concerns about the lack of seriousness in addressing corruption within the department. The delay in taking action against him fuels suspicions of a larger conspiracy involving other officials.
The incident raises serious questions about the role of Revenue officials in facilitating the illegal activity and whether a culture of impunity allows forest officials to blatantly disregard environmental regulations and the law.
Numerous media reports have exposed the Thandi Choi forest scam as one of the biggest in recent times, detailing the collusion of Forest and Revenue officials in plundering the green wealth of Jammu and Kashmir. Yet, despite this overwhelming evidence, there has been no concrete action taken against the corrupt officials involved.
It is critical that the Forest Department takes swift and decisive action against all officials involved, including the Tehsildar, to restore public confidence and ensure the protection of valuable forest resources. The public demands an immediate and severe punishment for the erring officials to send a strong message that laxity in government matters will not be tolerated.
