The wanton loot of forests continues unabated in Bhaderwah forest division .A few days after learning about the illegal felling of three hundred trees in Charalla range a special team of forest control room Doda recovered several young trees including Deodar tress which were found lying on ground inside compartment 85 and 86 of Bhalessa range of Bhaderwah forest division here today .According to official sources, “The timber smugglers had dumped large quantity of green trees in compartment number 85 and 86 of the Bhalessa range , we were informed by some locals of the Bhalessa that green forests were chopped off by timber smugglers in broad day light and the action came after a forest division Doda control room special team led by Forester Haroon Khan seized huge quantity of illegal timber in Bhalessa compartment number 85 and 86 .”Local residents of Bhaderwah told that, day in and out these timber smugglers are cutting trees. Due to callous attitude of Forest department, it seems that the forest officials are hand in glove with timber smugglers. Smugglers chop off these trees during day time and transport it in the night on horses backs and shoulders to the nearby areas and other adjoining areas to sell it to band saw mills owners, local alleged.Locals on condition of anonymity said, “Chief Conservator Jammu and Conservator Chenab circle Doda is shielding the concerned Diviosnal Forest Officer Bhaderwah ,due to which the felling of trees and smuggling of timber is increasing enormously day by day in all forest ranges of Bhaderwah . It seems that Forest department is in a deep slumber and have given free hand to the timber smugglers, this is high time that government of Jammu and Kashmir should take serious action against those who are being found in smuggling of green gold.”When contacted Forester control room Doda said, “After receiving specific inputs about the illegal felling of green trees in compartment number 85 and 86 we rushed to spot and recovered eight fallen green trees on the spot and registered a case .” It is worthwhile to mention here that Bhaderwah’s thick and dense forests are fast dwindling as smugglers in connivance with forest officials chop precious Deodar and Kail trees at free will to earn fast bucks as helpless government watches jungles being turned into deserts.Forests here used to have thick cover of green trees some 20 years back but now the whole area has been turned into plain stretch of land with stumps of chopped Deodar and Kail trees indicating the destruction of the forests by timber smugglers.Passing through vandalized forests of Bhaderwah , Bhalessa , Charalla and Kellar ranges , one could cleary hear the axing of trees in its higher reaches. “The smugglers are now moving towards higher reaches. They have lit up the fire to themselves warn. It is like a factory there,” a villager said without disclosing his name as thick smoke emanated from the forests. “We are concerned that the left over trees will also be felled and the mountains would turn into a desert. Due to increased activity of smugglers, the wild animals have started to move towards the villages.Locals said the smugglers with the support of Rangers and Foresters cut trees, and then employees of Forest department in each compartment set the stumps and remaining trunks on fire to show that the trees were destroyed by forest fires. In recent past, they attacked many villagers, killed our livestock and damaged our fields,” the villagers said. “Authorities did not take any measure to prevent felling of trees. They are still maintaining criminal silence.