CHITRAL: The elders of Mogh village of Lot Koh valley here have demanded of the government to take stern action against the divisional forest officer of wildlife department for establishing `fake` village conservation committee (VCC) for their village.

Addressing a press conference here the other day, Bahram Shah, Adina Gul, Ali Daad, Ali Nawaz, Rustam Shah, Ejaz Hussain and others said for the conservation of flora and fauna in the village forest, the VCC established by the wildlife department consisted of handpicked persons, neglecting the villagers.

They said the VCC president, Mir Dulla Jan, was not even a resident of the village while the other offices were doled out among the members of only five households of the village, which consisted of 95 households.

They complained that the majority of the villagers had rejected the election process of the VCC, saying the villagers` cooperation and active participation was essential for making the conservation and afforestation process a success.

The village elders said they approached the divisional forest officer of wildlife time and again but he always gave them a cold shoulder at the behest of the local MPA.

They said the VCC office-bearers appointed their own persons against the three posts of custodians of the afforestation process under the billion tree tsunami project of the provincial government.

The elders said on one hand, the PTI government was boasting of the project, but on the other, the officers of the wildlife department had been indulging in such illegal practices which had led to deterioration of natural resources.