A silent but devastating destruction of Himahcal Pradesh's pristine forests is taking place right under the nose of the government. The annual migration of Gorkha labourers from Nepal to the apple belt of Himachal Pradesh has started. In keeping with past trends, this year too, many orchard owners are employing these hardy labourers to illegally cut or burn down virgin pine forests. The freshly cleared land is then being used for apple cultivation.