Gorakhpur — A stir has been caused in the city after a video of illegal timber smuggling went viral on social media. The video allegedly shows Forest Department employees involved in the illegal trade, raising questions of corruption and negligence.
Local residents have alleged that timber smugglers are taking valuable wood out of the forest from “port” areas under the cover of darkness. One part of the video shows several vehicles heavily laden with timber being quietly transported.
Local environmental activists and former IPS officers have demanded an immediate investigation into the matter. They state that the personnel seen in the video might be violating departmental rules, and if these allegations prove true, it would pose a significant challenge to the country's forest conservation efforts.
The Forest Department has not yet issued an official statement, but experts warn that such smuggling can severely damage biodiversity. If this illicit trade is not controlled, it will threaten old-growth trees, timber of special species, and the overall ecological balance.
NGOs and local citizen groups have also become active in this matter, jointly demanding immediate and transparent action from both the Forest Department and the police.
