Himachal Pradesh Orders CID Probe Into Accumulation Of Logs In Pandoh Dam After Flash Floods

After flash floods, Himachal CM orders CID probe into suspected illegal logging at Pandoh Dam. Govt blames BJP for aiding forest mafia, says focus is on saving lives and providing relief.

CM Sukhvinder Sukhu orders CID probe into suspected illegal logging, blames BJP for inaction.

Source : PTI

Shimla, Jul 7 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) the probe into the accumulation of logs in the Pandoh Dam in last week's flash floods in Mandi that had led to allegations of illegal felling of trees.

"The state government has taken serious cognisance regarding the matter and would bring to light the possible reasons behind the accumulation of wood in such a large quantity and the government under the directions of the chief minister has now decided for the CID inquiry into the matter," a spokesperson said in a statement issued here.

It also hit out at the BJP, alleging that the opposition party had supported the forest mafia during its rule and had failed to fix accountability on the issue of illegal felling of trees.

The first and foremost reaction to the incidents of cloudbursts and floods was to save the life of people and provide immediate relief to them wherein effective measures were underway to bring back normalcy in the flood hit regions, the spokesperson said.

He said that logs in huge quantity were sighted floating in the Pandoh dam recently which got accumulated after they were swept down.

Videos and photographs of the large amount of wood flushing down the river and floating in the Pandoh dam went viral on a few media platforms, raising public concern and prompting calls for investigation.

"While the government and the administration were busy helping people, the BJP made hue and cry regarding the forest wood without showing sensitivity and concern for the ones affected by cloudburst and flash floods," the spokesperson said.

The opposition is "highly ignorant and selective when it comes to such matters as the issues of illegal felling of trees were never inquired and no accountability was set during their tenure", the statement alleged.

"Rather 'Van (forest) Mafia' had clear support of the BJP and its government in the previous tenures of the BJP government in the state," it alleged. 

 

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)