CPM condemns govt for tree felling on forest land

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 15

The state Secretariat of the CPM, today condemned the state government for cutting apple trees planted on forest land at Kandroo in Theog and Mandhol in Jubbal-Kotkhai.

They said the government had failed to check felling of trees in the state.

Following the directive of the High Court to government departments to remove all encroachments on the forest land, the Forest Department has launched a drive to evict encroachers from government lands.

Dr Onkar Shad, state secretary, CPM, said it would resist these moves and would mobilise people to ensure that trees were saved.

He said the CPM would launch a Chipko movement against this crusade. The party would submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister for his immediate intervention and a protest demonstration would be organised by the party on July 17. The party has asked the government to immediately stop this draconian move and provide anample opportunity to people to prove their stand and position.

The CPM also asked the government to initiate a process of leasing land to farmers.

Meanwhile, president of Himachal Kisan Sabha Kuldeep Singh Tanwar said cutting of green trees was against the environmental laws and demanded to stop this practice.