Peshawar: In a country where forests currently cover only 2.5 per cent of the land already existing forests are also being cut down.

Three thousand six hundred trees are being cut in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for a transmission line by WAPDA officials despite having barren land which can be used for the same purposes

Locals of the area are of the opinion that, “These trees are being cut only to lay down transmission lines even though opposite the river they have an alternate route of a plain land available.”

Sub-divisional Forest officer Muhammad Yousuf was sent to visit the site to which he expressed great disappointment saying, “The extreme Climate changes that we are a prey to, cutting of any tree, in my opinion, is a serious criminal offence.”

The people affected are concerned about Pakistan’s environment and want the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo-moto action taken against WAPDA Officials at the earliest.

According to secretary forest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the work is being done to connect a transmission line  from Golan Gol for which compensation has already been paid. “WAPDA through DC chitral has paid compensation for land, trees and properties coming in the way of the transmission line. Compensation includes harvesting of trees, re-planting and land stabilization charges given by WAPDA to KP Forest Dept.” He added.