J&K CM stripes PDP minister of portfolio

Srinagar, Sep 2 (UNI) In a significant development, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad tonight stripped Forest, Environment and Ecology minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal of his charge and retained the portfolio with himself.

According to a government order, the portfolio of Forest, Environment and Ecology would henceforth remain with the Chief Minister.

According to sources, the development came in the wake of allegations that artificial scarcity of timber was created in Jammu and Kashmir.

The state government had constituted an internal inquiry which found that not much timber was being marked by the State Forest Corporation (SFC) for use for commercial and private construction work, leading to creation of artificial scarcity of timber in the state, they added.

The inquiry also ascertained that the SFC was allegedly in nexus with some timber smugglers from outside the state, the sources said.

Mr Afzal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged a giant killer in the 2002 state Assembly elections after he defeated National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah from the Ganderbal constituency, a traditional bastion of the Sheikh family.

When contacted, Mr Afzal told UNI that he has received a letter from the General Administration Department (GAD) which mentioned that the Forests, Environment and Ecology ministry will henceforth be looked after by the Chief Minister.

''I have no more details. I will meet Mr Azad and discuss the matter with him after he returns from New Delhi,'' he added.

Mr Afzal refused to comment on the allegations leveled against him.

UNI