Kachi: Most wood in Pandoh Dam rotten

Himachal Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation (HPSFDC) vice-chairman Kehar Singh Kachi has dismissed allegations regarding illegal tree felling following the accumulation of large volumes of wood in Pandoh Dam, terming the claims politically motivated.

Addressing a press conference late last evening, Kachi said over 90% of the wood washed into Pandoh Dam in Mandi district was rotten and unfit even for fuel use. He attributed the accumulation to a cloudburst in a wildlife area of Mandi, stressing that tree felling in such areas is prohibited under Supreme Court orders.

Kachi also inspected the Pong Dam reservoir in Kangra district, where similar degraded wood was found. “The timber is in such poor condition that it cannot even be used for burning,” he said.

He said a probe headed by the Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife Wing), Hamirpur, will be conducted to assess the situation, and the corporation will act based on the findings. However, he clarified that no official report of illegal logging had surfaced so far.

Some useful timber, if found, will be marked by the Forest Department and transported to corporation depots for processing, Kachi added.

The controversy began after Congress leader and Theog MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore raised the issue during a press conference on June 29, following the June 25 cloudburst and flash floods in Kullu’s Sainj and Gadsa valleys. Opposition BJP leaders also raised concerns about the Forest Department’s functioning.

Former MLA Ajay Mahajan, HPSFDC director Yogesh Mahajan and senior forest officials were also present at the press briefing.

Himachal Tribune