The Ministry of Forests has sent a letter to District Forest Office, Dang stating that the duo has been suspended with effect from Tuesday through a secretary-level decision as per the Public Service Act 2049.[break]
There were reports that the two were involved in cutting of trees and smuggling in connivance with Chairman of the local Saljhandi Community Forest Consumers´ Group Sharada Chaudhary under the direction of Minister for Forests Mohammad Wakil Musalman. The two have been suspended on the recommendation of separate probe teams sent by the ministry and the Department of Forests.
The vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer of the consumers´ group have already been arrested and litigated on the charge of forest depletion while the District Forest Office has written to 13 other members of the committee to report to it.
The forest office has also sought written explanation from Chaudhary who has gone to India.
The consumers have alleged that timber smuggling from the forest has been rampant under the patronage of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (Democratic) to which chairman Chaudhary is politically affiliated.
The investigation teams had found that 89 trees were cut from the forest and had estimated a claim amount of Rs 2.32 million for each involved.
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