Himachal Pradesh government for zero tolerance on illegal felling of trees, says CM Virbhadra Singh

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday categorically stated in the Assembly that the government would adopt policy of "zero tolerance" on felling of green trees and enforce it strictly.

"I fought against forest mafia through out my life and ensure the House that my commitment for zero tolerance on green felling has remained undiluted," he said while intervening on the issue being raised by the BJP which was demanding removal of the state forest minister over recent felling of trees in Chamba and Shimla districts.

Singh also made a suo motu statement in the House regarding steps taken by the government about felling of green trees in forests of Sikri, Rupani and Alami under Chamba range and informed that both the lot of forests were awarded to Himachal Pradesh Forest Corporation by department to cut the dry and fallen trees.

He said that HPFC had to remove 978 dry and fallen trees by December 1 this year from Sikri and Rupani forests, however, during joint inspection by the Department and corporation about 78 axed green trees of Spruce were recovered during inspection on November 24 and 29 Deodar trees on December 3, from the two forests.

The Chief Minister said that Divisional Forest Officer Chamba had prepared the damage report and lodged the FIR on December 5 this year when opposition raised the issue in Assembly.

The Department issued show cause notices to Deputy Range Officer and Forest Guards concerned on December 6. Suresh Bhardwaj (BJP) raised the issue of illicit felling of trees at Taradevi near Shimla and Benmore and sought ruling on his adjournment motion under Rule 67.

The Opposition was raising the issue which has been responded by him and the forest minister in detail earlier and rejected the demand of the opposition, saying that "the issue once discussed in the house can not be discussed again".

Dissatisfied by his reply, the opposition BJP members alleged that the state government was taking action against who are not directly involved in the case and sparing the big fishes behind the crime.

Ravinder Singh Ravi (BJP) said that "the government was taking action against low rank officials but not taking action against the real culprits working behind the scene.

Intervening in the matter, Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal demanded permission to play the CD offered by the BJP member Ravinder Singh Ravi but the Chief Minister rejected the demand and said "I know who has given the CD to opposition members and asked them to explain that why they remained silent over green felling that occur in Bemole forest in Shimla".

Rejecting the demand to play the CD, Singh said the BJP could play the CD outside assembly in the public and cautioned that CDs could be played against them also.
Giving his ruling on adjournment motion of BJP members over illicit felling of trees in private forest near Taradevi, Speaker Brij Behari Lal Butail said "since the issue has been discussed threadbare under rule 130 in the house on December 5, it could not be allowed to be debated again.