Kamraj Forest Division steps up action to protect green wealth
Kupwara: In a decisive move against the timber mafia, the Forest Department in Kupwara has booked three habitual timber smugglers under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).
The action, initiated on the recommendations of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kamraj Forest Division and executed through orders by the Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, is aimed at curbing the rising menace of timber smuggling in the region.
Officials said the accused were repeatedly found involved in unlawful felling and smuggling of timber, endangering both the ecological balance and public order in the frontier district.
CF North Circle Sopore Irfan Ali Shah, while terming the move a “strong message” to offenders, stated:
“The Forest Department, in coordination with district administrations of Kupwara and Baramulla, is determined to safeguard our forests. We will not hesitate to take the strictest possible action against those who plunder our green wealth.”
Meanwhile, the Forest Department has appealed to the public to act as partners in preservation, urging citizens to promptly report suspicious or illegal activities at their nearest forest office.