LAYYAH: The unavailability of funds, harsh weather and decades of negligence by Forest Department officials have wiped Forest Colony quarters of Anayat and Machhu forest ranges.

In 1950, Layyah tehsil of Muzaffargarh was declared a colony area to settle the migrants of Partition by the government.

The government also established the Thal Development Authority to develop an irrigation system to cultivate the vast barren land of desert districts -- Khushab, Mianwali , Bhakkar, Layyah and Muzaffargarh. In these districts, thousands of acres were allocated by the government to grow forests and make the region environment-friendly.

In Layyah, four forest ranges - Machhu, Anayat, Fateh and Layyah -- were established.

The man-grown Machhu and Anayat forest ranges have 10,224 acres and 10,435 acres. To irrigate forests along with canal water, eight tubewells were also installed in both ranges.

In 1954, adjacent to these forests, offices of the sub-division forest officer and range officer along with 30 residences were constructed for different cadres of employees of the Forest Department.

With the passage of time, 25 residences of foresters were dismantled as they were not repaired regularly due to the unavailability of funds and negligence of forest officers.

At present, only 12 residences stand in the colony, of which eight are not fit for residential usage.

Up to 25 foresters, eight block officers, eight tube-well operators and grade four and seven employees are performing duties in both ranges without any residence, say Divisional Forest Officer Muhammad Tariq.

Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Allaudin said that due to the unavailability of maintenance and repair funds “we are not able to control the deteriorating conditions of these residences”.

Environmentalist Niaz Shah Gilani says the Pakistan Tehreej-i-Insaf government has started a green and clean campaign in Punjab and if they use the available forest land for tree plantation at least the environment of the region will be human friendly as the trees will help curtail sand storms in the summer season.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2019