Forest officials dismiss allegations as ‘sensationalism’, but locals demand accountability
Munish Sood
MANDI: A video showing large-scale tree cutting deep within the forests of Kullu is being widely circulated on social media, triggering public outrage and raising serious questions about the alleged unchecked deforestation taking place in Himachal Pradesh’s ecologically sensitive zones.
Shot in the dense forests above Bashaleu village in the Nirmand subdivision of Kullu district, the video shows felled deodar trees lying scattered across the slopes, some believed to be over a century old. What’s more alarming is the timing: these activities are reportedly taking place in the middle of the monsoon when the region is already grappling with landslides and flash floods.
Local villagers, who helped bring the issue to light, allege that the destruction is not new but part of a long-running and well-organised operation aided by official apathy.
“We’ve been seeing trees fall for years. But this time, even the oldest trees are gone. And now our village is cracking — literally. Landslides have started right below the cut zones,” said one of the youths who filmed the video.
Environment at risk, government silent
Environmentalists warn that such deforestation in the fragile Himalayan belt is not just illegal but suicidal. With cracks now appearing on footpaths leading to Bashaleu Jot, entire village settlements are reportedly at risk. Torrential rains have already sent logs floating down local streams, adding fuel to suspicions of timber smuggling.
The silence from the government machinery has only deepened the mistrust. Despite mounting visual evidence and repeated local complaints, no visible action has been taken.
Anni MLA Lokender Kumar calls for accountability
BJP MLA from Anni Lokender Kumar confirmed having received complaints of the tree-felling and accused the forest department of negligence.
“Just a month ago, the Chief Minister visited the area. Yet today, massive cedar trees are being cut and no one from the department is acting. This is not mere carelessness, but complicity,” said Lokender Kumar, demanding a formal investigation into the matter.
In response to the allegations, Anni DFO Chaman Lal Rao issued a statement denying any illegal activity. He claimed the video was misleading and facts were being distorted.
“The video being circulated is not based on facts and was made without any official verification. The forest department had given permission to the forest corporation to cut down some old and fallen trees. These were cut legally by department staff and kept aside for transport. Due to heavy rains, their removal was delayed. Someone is unnecessarily creating panic and the claims being made are incorrect,” said the DFO.
However, locals remain skeptical. “If this was legal, why was no information shared with the community? And why are fresh stumps visible alongside old logs?” asked a resident of Bashaleu, pointing to what they call a systematic plundering of forest wealth.
Flashfloods and floating logs: A pattern emerges
This is not the first such incident as flashfloods in the Sainj valley of Kullu recently brought with them massive quantities of timber, raising similar concerns about illegal felling and hoarding. At the time, the government dismissed the incident as natural forest debris washed away by water, but handed the case over to CID for investigation. No findings have been made public yet.
Simultaneously, protests continue against tree cutting for the Bijli Mahadev ropeway project area where activists claim thousands of trees are being cleared for commercial interests under the guise of development.
Experts warn that Himachal is inching toward ecological collapse. With forest cover being stripped away, whether through mafia activity or sanctioned projects, the state is witnessing a sharp rise in flashfloods, landslides, drying springs and biodiversity loss.
“The problem isn’t just the cutting but the cover-up,” said a retired forest official on condition of anonymity. “Unless accountability begins at the top, Himachal’s green future is in grave danger.”
As images, videos and testimonies continue to emerge from forested regions across Himachal, locals are demanding more than just statements. They want accountability, transparency and immediate action to protect what remains of their forests.
“This isn’t just a forest issue. It’s a survival issue,” says one environmental activist. “If the state won’t act now, nature will — and the results will be devastating.”
