Following an unauthorised mass felling of walnut trees in Keegam area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, authorities on Friday suspended five officials including a Tehsildar for the dereliction of duty.
An official said that Tehsildar Showkat Ahmad Rather, Naib Tehsildar Gh Nabi Mir, a Patwari, and a Chowkidar of Keegam Tehsil were placed under suspension after mass axing of walnut trees took place in the area.
The owners of the walnut orchard spread over 40 to 50 Kanals hacked more than 80 trees on Thursday night, the official said .
He said that after knocking down the trees the fellers also tried to burn out the stumps.
He said that six alleged fellers identified as Ghulam Mohammd Wani, Abdul Kabir, Nazir Ahmad Rather, Ghulam Nabi Ahangar, Mohammad Ahsan Dar and Abdul Sattar Mir, all residents of Keegam were arrested.
The incident has taken place meters away from the tehsil office. A senior revenue official, wishing not be named, told Greater Kashmir that they suspected a nexus between some officials of the department and the fellers.
Deputy Development Commissioner Dr Owais Ahmad said an FIR had been registered with the police and a departmental enquiry initiated.
“We are not going to spare any one. I have already ordered the suspension of some officials in this regard”
State government has imposed a complete ban on the axing of walnut trees and Divisional Commissioner is the competent authority who could permit the felling of trees under section 4 of Jammu and Kashmir’s Preservation of Specified Trees Act 1969.
Meanwhile, general secretary Valley Citizens Council (VCC) Imdad Saqi demanded the booking of culprits under Public Safety Act.