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J&K to use cranes to stop flow of timber to Pak.

By Luv Puri

Srinagar Nov. 22. To check the flow of timber worth several millions of rupees to Pakistan, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to collect them from rivers through cranes dispensing with labour.

Logs from Doda district and the hilly belt of Kathua, particularly the Billawar forests are dumped in the Chenab and the Ravi. The timber is collected by the labour of the State Forest Corporation (SFC) and taken to various depots where they are prepared for the market.

Every year due to floods high-class Deodhar (similar to teak wood) and fir logs flow into Pakistan through Chenab and Ravi rivers. This phenomenon is rampant in the winter season particularly during December resulting in SFC incurring loss of several millions.

Talking to The Hindu, the Forest Minister, Ghulam Mohhiuddin Sofi, said, ``We have taken the matter seriously and the crane system is being planned for taking out dumped logs from the rivers. Using humans for collecting the timber from the rivers is risky and also ineffective. The wealth of the State as well as the country should remain with us.''

According to him, cranes would be kept ready along the rivers and this winter would be the test case.

For arresting the phenomenon of rapidly-shrinking forest area, the state government has decided upon a policy after wide ranging consultations with the environmentalists. The forests guards would now be given arms and training would be provided to 1600 forest guards. Any body arrested thrice for illegal felling of trees would be detained under Public Safety Act. As per the new policy 15 % of forest area is now ear-marked for wild-life, 40 % declared as no-extraction zone and felling of only dry trees would be allowed . Environmentalists in the state have hailed the policy and described it a measure which was urgently required in a state where the green cover was rapidly shrinking. Sujan Singh says, " A forest rich state of J&K is losing its green cover. Urgent steps are required and this is a welcome step."

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