The Forest Act prohibits the felling of trees in national forests that are yet to be handed over to communities. Defying the act, trees in Suseli, Saidanda, and Upper Hanchuwa forests in Bhogteni, among others, have been logged. [break]
Locals claim that Maoist workers Himal Rai, chairperson of Suseli forest, Hari Rai, secretary of the forest, Buddhi Bahadur Tamang, chairperson of Saidanda forest, and Pushpa Bahadur Sarki, chairperson of Upper Hanchuwa forest, have been conniving with contractors in Belbari and Itahari to fell the trees.
That all of them are Maoist workers has been verified by Khadga Luintel, Maoist village committee secretary of Kerabari and deputy-secretary Maha Prasad Luintel.
Locals say the trees are smuggled to Belbari and Itahari.
Sub-Inspector Natibabu Basnet of Area Police Office, Kerabari, admitted that tree felling is widespread. “I have been doing my best. But instead of cooperating to stop logging, forest officials come to free seized timber,” he said.
Despite the government ban on logging, locals have not been able to stop it in the national forest region located in Bhogteni, Yangshila, Partigaun and Kerabari.
But District Forest Officer Arun Sharma expressed ignorance about the goings-on. “I will enquire about this and take action against the culprits,” he said.
Locals of Kerabari said the logging is drying up water sources and is also increasing the risk of landslide.
The UCPN (Maoist) and other parties have demanded action against the culprits.
“We have asked them many times to refrain from logging,” said Luintel, Maoist village committee secretary of Kerabari. “We can no longer keep quiet just because they are party workers,” he added. But the Maoist workers who have been accused of being involved in felling trees denied their involvement.
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