ARUN KASHYAP/Haridwar
The illegal cutting of protected tree species in Haridwar has the Horticulture department accusing the police of not registering a case in the instances despite written complaints. Horticulture department officials alleged that the land mafia has axed dozens of trees including protected species but the police have not taken action on the complaints. In some instances the police station and reporting posts did not provide a receiving copy of the complaints submitted by department staff. In a recent case, more than 82 mango trees were cut in the Ferupur police station area. The Horticulture department team conducted an inspection of the site and submitted a complaint in the Ferupur police post.
However, no case was registered by the police three days after submission of the complaint, department staff alleged. A similar case came to light in Jiyapota village in Kankhal police station area where dozens of trees were allegedly axed by the land mafia. Horticulture inspector Masoom Ali went to the Jagjeetput police post but the police allegedly did not provide him with a receiving copy. According to Ali, the police have not taken action in more than half a dozen such cases with FIRs not being lodged despite repeated complaints. He also wrote to the district’s chief horticulture officer Tejpal Singh on April 27 eliciting his attention to this issue. According to Ali, the instances of illegal tree felling occurred on February 11, February 13, March 5 and April 24. Complaints were submitted to the police in each of these instances but no action has been taken yet, he added.
The Haridwar senior superintendent of police Navneet Singh Bhullar said that such a situation is not acceptable. “If the Horticulture department officials bring these instances to my notice, a case will be lodged immediately. Cases will be lodged without delay on all the complaints submitted by the Horticulture department,” he said.
The chief horticulture officer Tejpal Singh said that though the department had filed complaints many times, the police are now taking serious cognisance and lodging cases. Stating that the delayed action is a matter of concern, he said that lack of action despite repeated complaints raises questions at the administrative system. “This will be brought to the notice of senior officials so that impartial inquiry is undertaken against the accused and to ensure necessary legal action,” he said.
