The presence of a large number of wooden logs in flash floods in Kullu district on Wednesday has drawn the attention of environmentalists. The matter has raised concern of “alleged illicit felling” of valuable trees in Kullu area .
Several videos were shared on social media showing a large number of wooden logs floating in the gushing water of the flood along with debris. The wooden logs were also seen floating in Pandoh and Larji Dams on Thursday.
The presence of uprooted trees, bushes and wooden logs in flooded water is a common sight during the monsoon months in Himachal as many locals can be seen collecting the wood illegally from rivers and nullahas.
The social activists and environmentalists have raised eyebrows over the presence of a large number of wooden logs seen floating after flash floods on Wednesday and Thursday in Parvati and Beas rivers.
A similar video was also circulated during flash floods in Thunag of Mandi district in August 2023, wherein a large number of wooden logs were seen floating the flooded water and later in the Khad. Many Congress leaders had raised this issue in the media and on the floor of the State Assembly as the area is represented by former CM Jai Ram Thakur in HP Assembly.
Conservator of Forest Kullu Circle, Sandeep Sharma said, “We had formed three teams as the area falls in three Divisional Forest Divisions – Sainj, GHNPC and Parvati to conduct a thorough investigation in the matter.”
“ As per preliminary findings we have not found any evidence of alleged illicit tree felling in the area and the floating wood is either uprooted trees, fallen trees naturally or decaying wooden logs accumulated over roughly 20000 hectares forest areas, during the past so many years ,”
“ Prima facie, the presence of wooden logs seem result of accumulated mass on top of the ridge above the Jiwa Khad area or in surrounding forest areas, which flowed into flooded water but we will thoroughly investigate the angle of illicit felling of trees too,” he added.
