The DFO informed that chief of Kharkhola Community Forest Consumer Group Chandra Narayan Chaudhary and another official, Tej Narayan Magar, are under detention beacuse they cut down 31 trees when only five trees should have been felled. The community forest is located at Triyuga Municipality-9, Udayapur district. [break]
"Without heeding our previous agreement, they have cut down an excessive number of trees and we won´t put up with this illegal activity," said DFO chief Kishore Chandra Gautam. "The arrested officials are undergoing interrogations," added Gautam.
According to Gautam, the illegal tree felling started a month before DFO and community forest officials agreed on April 28 on the number of trees to be cut."
"We have already confiscated 1,100 cubic feet of wooden planks cut out of the felled trees and another 611 cubic feet is still stocked inside the forest," said Gautam.
Gautam further informed that they have also seized a tractor used in transporting the wood. "We found that the number plate of the tractor was deliberately erased and its tires changed," said Gautam.
The DFO believes that timber dealers are also involved in the illegal felling and attempted smuggling of trees.
"Currently, we are interrogating the officials but they have not disclosed the names of the others involved," said Gautam.
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