M A I N   N E W S

Mafia timber worth crores seized
By Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

RAJPURA (Patiala), Feb 7 — Ninetythree wagons allegedly containing illegal timber worth several crores, brought from the North-East, have been detained by the Forest Department authorities at various railway stations, including here, Nangloi in Delhi and Tinsukhia Railway station in Assam.

According to information available at the official level out of 93 wagons, 27 have been detained at the local railway station. In fact, wagons were detained at the local railway station but 13 of these were released on the production of valid documents by the parties concerned.

The wagons were detained by a team of forest officials led by Mr Kuldip Singh, Conservator of Forests, South Circle, Patiala on the directive of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF). The other members of the team were Mr H.S. Grewal, Divisional Forest Officer, Patiala, Mr Ajmer Singh, Forest Range Officer, Rajpura and about a score of forest guards.

The wagons were detained on different dates. While nine wagons were detained on February 5, the remaining were impounded between December 29 and the last week of January. It was a difficult task and “many of us spent most of the winter nights on the local railway station,” Mr Grewal said.

When contacted, Mr Kuldip Singh told TNS that no one had claimed the timber which was loaded in 27 wagons though many of these were detained over a month back. Seventeen wagons were unloaded at the local railway siding for measuring the timber and to submit a report to the MOEF. Even in Delhi, most of the detained wagons have remained unclaimed.

Following a tip off from its sources, the MOEF alerted the Forest Department authorities in various states to impound the wagons which had been allegedly carrying the illegal timber. The Ministry acted on the basis of strict restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court on the cutting and transportation of timber from the North-East and other states obviously to preserve and maintain the forest cover.

Officials concerned told TNS that a big timber mafia was operating in the North-East under the patronage of big political guns. The mafia had its saw mills and other infrastructure for the illegal felling and transportation of timber. However, a tough stand taken by the MOEF lately had made the things hot for the mafia.

Mr Kuldip Singh revealed that the MOEF in a order sent to various principal chief conservator of forests directed that the timber unloaded at the Rajpura railway siding and contained in two rakes stationed at Nangloi and Safdarjung should be treated as “seized” till further orders.

The Ministry told the railway authorities concerned to carry out physical verification of the timber contained in the two rakes detained at the Delhi stations jointly with officers deputed by the Ministry. Afterwards, wagon-wise details were to be provided to the Ministry. The Railway authorities also sought an assurance that no pilferage of the”seized” timber would be allowed.

The Railway authorities were directed to issue a public notice in the print media with regard to unclaimed timber at Rajpura, Delhi and Tinsukhia asking the consignors and consignees to “claim the seized” material within 72 hours after giving the details of their address, transit pass, mode of payment, purchase order and sales tax number etc.

Informed sources said as timber had remained unclaimed for the past one month or so, it was likely to be auctioned after completing the necessary legal and other formalities and its proceeds would be deposited with the authorities concerned after consulting the officials concerned of MOEF.

Mr Kuldip Singh said the railway authorities had also been told not to give pre-destination delivery of timber which was brought through railway wagons from the North-East and other states. Giving examples in this connection, he said timber supposed to be delivered at the local railway station must reach here and not be unloaded at Ambala or any other station on the way. The pre-destination delivery could make the task of detaining illegal timber difficult, he added.

Vilayat Khan refuses award

CALCUTTA, Feb 7 (UNI)— Sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan today announced his refusal to accept the Padma Vibhushan in protest against the ‘’politics, lobbying and favouritism’’ in selecting awardees in Indian music circles.‘’If there is any award in sitar I deserve it first and foremost. But I don’t want to take it now since it was earlier given to wrong persons at wrong time. Conferring this award on me at this stage is an insult,’’ he told a crowded press conference here.In an obvious reference to Pandit

Ravi Shanker, who was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the 72-year-old musician said if sitar and khandan were to be considered it was his (Vilayat Khan’s) ‘parampara’ which was older and had been intact all along. ‘’The gayaki aang has been propagated by our family for the longest period. So much so that now there are too many claimants to take the credit’’, he said.

Launching a scathing attack on the Sangeet Natak Academy for an all pervading atomosphere of politics and favouritism, the ustad, who had also refused to accept Padma Shree and Padma Bhushan Awards in the sixties, said the rot set in the organisation since 1953-54 as most of the selections it made for conferring awards went wrong. ’’There has never been any yardstick based on creativity, fame or parampara which made the awards meaningless’’, he said.