MURREE: Local people have demanded drastic measures to protect green forests in Kotli Sattian and Murree which are being destroyed by the timber mafia.

Tabassum Munir Satti, who was a candidate for the Punjab Assembly seat from the area, Javed Satti Inqilabi, a former UC nazim, Maqsood Satti, Asad Iqbal Satti, Obaidur Rehman and others said a number of wood cutting machines had been installed illegally in Dheerkot, Malote, Santhi and other areas to make doors, windows etc., from the chopped trees with alleged connivance of the forest department officials.

They said a large number of cutters were also being used for illegal cutting of trees in the areas. These cutters are operated with small generators to chop trees.

The locals demanded that a search operation should be carried out and these cutters should be banned to protect the green trees.

Chairlifts are installed on Jhelum River between Kotli Sattian and Azad Kashmir through which the illegally cut trees are also being smuggled to Azad Kashmir, they alleged.

The forest areas spreading over 26,000 acres cannot to be protected by just 17 staffers and two vehicles of the department.

They demanded that the vacant posts be filled and more trained staff with vehicles and other resources be appointed in the areas.

A few days ago, the area MPA arranged a visit of Punjab ministers, including the minister for environment, to the area and tried to identify some spots where tourist spots could be developed. They assured the locals that steps would be taken to develop tourism in the area.

On the one hand, the government is trying to develop tourism in the area and on the other the mafia is denuding the forests, said the locals.

They said with an appropriate attention the scenic areas of Kotli Sattian can be developed into another tourist resort located just 50 km away from the federal capital.

The local people appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar to take notice of the ruining of the forests in the area.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2018