Ganderbal, July 25: Various depots in Ganderbal are without timber from last many years despite of recovery of more than one lakh cubic feet of timber from ranges of Ganderbal forests.
Sources said that number of depots which include Gutlibagh, Babawayil, Wailbala, Nuner, Sehipora, Urpash, Arch,Manigam are without timber and the residents of these areas are up in arms against State Forest Corporations for failing to provide them timber on time.
Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Sehipora said, “SFC sanctioned me the timber two years ago but I am yet to receive the same. I am in dire need of timber as my house is under construction.”
Local resident said, “Thousands of cfts have been sanctioned to people in various areas of Ganderbal few years ago but people have been waiting for timber since then. Non-availability of timber is forcing poor people to buy commercial timber at high rates.”
When contacted Divisional forest officer Ganderbal and Bandipora, said, “There is a huge demand for timber in Ganderbal. We have received over twenty thousand applications for timber in 2017.”
“We have distributed timber to thousands of beneficiaries so far and currently we are dumping the timber stock and rest of the beneficiaries will be provided with sanctioned timber very soon.”
