10 unlicensed band saw mills dismantled in Rafiabad
In a major operation by Forest Department against offenders, at least ten unlicensed band saw mills were dismantled in Rafiabad area of this north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday.
Official said acting tough against the owners of the band saw mills, a joint team of forest officials and forest protection force raided band saw mills in Yadipora village of  Rafiabad in the morning and dismantled these units.
“At least ten band saw units were operating in blatant violation of the SRO-103. These units were involved in facilitating illegal supply and black marketing of forest timber,” Divisional Forest
Officer (DFO) Forest Division Langate Irfan Rasool Wani told .
He said in future no such unit would be allowed to operate that violates the SRO-103.
As per the SRO-103, no primary bands aw unit can be established within municipal limits and it should be at least  8 kms away from the demarcated forest area.
He said Conservator of forests is licensing officer under this SRO.
Officials informed that strict action as per law is being taken against forest vendors in the area.
They said Minister of Forests Bali Bhagat has set a dead line of eviction of 5000 hectres of encroached forest land this year.
“The party involved in the operations against the offenders had to face stiff resistance but we will continue to act tough against the violators,” said an official.
All the range officers and other employees of forest protection force were part of the team.
The raid was carried under the supervision of Deputy Director Forest Protection Force Syed Wasim.
Pertinently, hundreds of kanals of forest land were retrieved from encroachers in different forest divisions of Baramulla district in the past few months.
Two employees of forest department have also been suspended for their involvement in grabbing of forest land in Zandpharan area of Baramulla.
Earlier, around 300 cft illicit timber was seized by police in Rafiabad.
Locals in the district have been demanding stern action against the elements involved in wonton loot of green gold.
Over the past few decades forest areas in many parts of the valley have suffered huge damage at the hands of smugglers.
Chief Conservator of Forests told that from last few years forest protection has assumed tremendous importance.
He said that whenever he receives any complaint against any officer or any employee involved in any forest offence, strict action as per law is taken against him.
“There has been improvement in preservation and conservation of forests now. The strict action taken by the department against the offenders has yielded better results,” he said.
