Rayees Shah
A viral video showing over one thousand feet of decayed logs in compartment number 68 of the Sindh Range, Kangan, has sparked outrage among local residents.
They are demanding accountability from the forest department, accusing it of mismanagement and negligence. The logs, reportedly left untouched for years, have raised concerns about the department’s handling of resources.
Residents speaking to The Kashmiriyat said that while they struggle to obtain even a small quantity of wood through bureaucratic processes, the forest department has allowed thousands of feet of logs to rot in the open.
“This is a clear case of mismanagement and negligence,” said a local. “We are made to run from pillar to post for a single foot of wood, while the department wastes thousands of feet. It’s unacceptable.”
The community is calling for an immediate investigation into the matter, seeking answers on how such a significant quantity of wood was left to decay and why no action was taken over the years.
“The concerned department must investigate this and hold those responsible accountable,” another resident told The Kashmiriyat.
The discovery of the decaying logs has fueled anger and frustration, raising serious questions about the forest department’s transparency, accountability, and commitment to sustainable forest management.
In response to the public outcry, a senior Forest Department official in Ganderbal stated that the Forest Department is not responsible for the neglect.
The official upon being contacted by The Kashmiriyat said that the logs were harvested by the State Forest Corporation Department, which failed to remove or utilize them.
The official claimed that the Forest Department only became aware of the situation after the video surfaced.
However, the residents remain unconvinced by this explanation and continue to demand action.
“We want an independent investigation, and those responsible for this waste should be held accountable,” said another resident.