GILGIT, March 3: Timber traders on Sunday blocked the Karakuram Highway in Chilas for hours to protest delay in notification of the new timber policy.Administration officials said that timber merchants joined by the local residents erected blockades at the Thore point of the KKH in Diamer district. The road blockade suspended all kinds of traffic stranding passengers for over six hours. The blockade was lifted after the concerned officials and police high ups reached the site and assured the protesters of meeting their demand.
The protesters chanted slogans and burnt tyres and slammed government for delay in notification of the timber policy.
Speaking on the occasion elders of the district said precious timber was not being allowed to be transported because the forest department was not issuing passes to the timber traders.
They said in a recent meeting of GB Council the prime minister had given approval of timber policy but the ministry of Kashmir Affairs and GB was not issuing notification to this effect.
They said region`s chief minister was empowered to issue a notification to this effect but `was not doing so deliberately`.
They threatened that district wide protest will be launched and the KKH will be blocked if the notification was not issued in two days.
The elders said local people were suffering as they earned their livelihoods through timber trade.
The Deputy Commissioner of Diamer district Mohammad Ajmal Bhatti, who had gone to the spot along with other officials, assured the protesters that their grievances will be conveyed to higher authorities.
It is pertinent to mention here that a huge quantity of timber is lying dumped in Diamer district which requires approval of the government to be transported to other parts of the country.
When contacted the forest department officials said the timber was cut illegally and could not be released until the government lifted ban over its transportation. They said a considerable amount of fine was being imposed on the timber to discourage timber mafia in future.
