MINGORA, April 3: Cutting of trees continues unabated in the upper parts of Malakand, as the authorities concerned have failed to check this illegal activity.
After ruthlessly cutting the trees the timber mafia sell them at throw-away prices causing a huge loss to the national exchequer, officials and locals said.
The trees which are cut in the upper parts of Swat are supplied to other districts of the NWFP through different routes on daily basis, but the officials are least bothered to take action against the mafia.
When contacted, a timber merchant said that the illegal timber was in rare cases confiscated and that too in case the smugglers failed to strike bargain with the officials.
It has been observed that the trucks carrying illegal timber were impounded only on way to other districts, but the authorities in different districts of Malakand are never questioned about how the vehicles crossed the checkpoints.
It is very unfortunate that all the people, including the personnel of police and forest department are alleged to be in collusion with the timber smugglers. The locals allege that the officials always tried to get facilities, without bothering about the massive deforestation.
The mafia people are also said to be very influential because they often block action against them.
One of the main reasons of increasing the activities of the timber mafia is stated to be pressure from the politicians who support their men even if they were involved in timber smuggling or other illegal activities.
The timber mafia has recently targeted the forests on both sides of the Swat river. These include the forests of Shagram, Morpandai, Marghazar valley, Kalam, Madyan, Behrain, Matta, Fazil Banda, Ghari, Sakhra, Beha, Ruringar, Lalko, Utror, Ushu, Gabral, Mian Bela, Tall and Dardyal. The forests of Buner district have also been cut ruthlessly. The forests of Eelum, Gukand, Jambel and Kokarai have almost vanished.
An inquiry commission's report, which was submitted to a local court, about 600 trees had been cut in the Parona area only by one person, but the authorities have failed to take action in this regard.
The trees cut in the forests of Dwasar are brought to the Mingora city via Sodher and Manglawar.
The smugglers use different methods to bring trees cut in the forests of Kalam, which are at a distance of about 70 kilometres from Mingora.
Mostly, the smugglers use the river Swat for transportation of the logs through rubber tubes. Shin, Khwazakhela and other roadside villages are the main spots where the timber logs are loaded on to the rubber tubes.
In some areas, the Afghans are also very active cutting the trees. They are involved in cutting young trees and use them as firewood.
Besides, the owners of saw machines, which are installed in the urban areas, clearly violate the forest laws.
