Sikkim forests are threatened by timber racket
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23/05/1999
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Asian Age (New Delhi)
The lush coniferous forests and brisk mountin streams taht turn this remote valley in northeastern Indi into a picture perfent conderland every summer will soon be a memory thanks to unchecked tree felling. Though satellite pictures have shown a 40 per cent loss of Sikkim's forest cover over the last decade, it took a row over turf between the Army and the state forest department to expose a timber racket in which the Army and local people have a share.