Unabated smuggling of medicinal plants from Kashmir forests is causing a loss of crores of rupees to the state. The smugglers, it has been learnt have succeeded in plundering medicinal herbs especially in the Sukhnaag range of Dudhpathri from the compartment S7, S9, S11 and S14. The value of these herbs, according to experts, in the international market is worth crores.
Since the concerned have not taken any preventive measure under law to stop smuggling of these herbs, a huge area commonly known as Toos Maidan was looted within no time by the smugglers. The smugglers have now moved to Compartment D-31 S3 as it possesses medicinal herbs in abundance. The authorities, however, continue to stay indifferent. While the locals do not rule out an official-smuggler nexus, the authorities say that the smugglers send local men and women to rob the forests of the valuable herbs. This makes their job difficult. The smuggling, officials believe cannot be stopped by taking recourse to law alone. The elderly people of the villages in the vicinity of the forests need to be taken into confidence. The people and the officials have to work together to save the forests. The forest officials have already launched the Jungle Bachao Muhim (Save jungle campaign) which has evoed healthy response in some of the villages. Besides making this campaign a success, the officials need to invite tenders for extraction of the herbs. The job of extracting the herbs can be entrusted to the unemployed youth of the state. This can solve the problem of unemployment on the one hand and on the other get the state the much needed revenue. More than 5000 aromatic/medicinal plants have been discovered in Jammu Kashmir till date. Around 4000 are found in the Valley forests. If this potential is properly tapped, it can fetch the state a whooping 3 billion USD. Scientific observations reveal that Kashmir could become the super power in the future times for Herbal Medicine and perfumes if the huge resources are exploited properly and effectively. Scientists have so for prioritized over seven hundred medicinal plants yielding high quality chemicals and other ingredients used in life saving medicaments and aromatherapy and in cosmetics.The medicinal plants need to be protected and preserved. These plants can bring the state on the economic map of the world.