Scarcity of firewood in Uri, Boniyar

Baramulla, Nov 28: Amid cold conditions , the residents of Uri and Boniyar in north Kashmir's Baramulla district are facing severe hardships due to the unavailability of firewood.
The locals have expressed their dissatisfaction over the failure by the concerned officials to ensure an adequate supply of firewood, particularly for the use of “bukhari”, a traditional heating appliance.

Naseer Ahmad, a resident of Nambla, while highlighting the issue said that the majority villages of the Uri and Boniyar tehsil areas are situated at higher altitudes, experiencing heavy snowfall during winter, which often leads to road closures.

He said with limited access to firewood due to restrictions imposed by the Department of Forest, residents are left without a vital source of warmth.
"From the last few years, we are unable to fetch timber from the local areas as there are several restrictions imposed by the department of forest for lifting wood from the nearby areas. With the result there
is scarcity of fire wood in the area," said Naseer.

Muhammad Sadiq from Uri while echoing similar sentiments, said that the scarcity of firewood is a main issue especially in winter in the area. He said despite the abundance of forests, obtaining firewood has become increasingly difficult, raising concerns among the locals.

The residents also expressed frustration over the absence of a forest depot in both Boniyar and Uri tehsils, even though the areas are rich in forests. They said that having a forest depot in these locations would mitigate the challenges they face in acquiring firewood.

Feroz Ahmad, while highlighting the crucial role of firewood in winter, said , "The firewood is a lifeline during winter here. In the absence of firewood, it is hard to imagine a smooth life during winter."

The residents of the area have urged the authorities to address the issue on a priority basis, calling for the establishment of forest depots in Uri and Boniyar to ensure a stable and accessible supply of
firewood.