Green felling continues to thrive in the dense forests of eastern Siraha bordering Udayapur district. Employees of ranger posts under the District Forest Office, Siraha, have allegedly given a free hand to the timber smugglers to plunder the green gold.
The green felling is said to be rampant at Dharmapur, Dhangadi, Mirchaya and Bandipur. Smugglers bring felled Sakhu logs from these areas and sell them.
Without any obstruction, smugglers fell Sakhu, the robust tree having high market value and considered worthy for house construction, while custodians of the green treasure watch the smuggling of timbers as mute spectators, locals complain.
Devan Mukhiya of Chandrodayapur-5 said smugglers work in hand in glove with forest officials. "They (smugglers) give fat money to ranger staff to carry out the illegal activity," he said.
On the other hand, people involved in timber smuggling also publicly accept that they "bribe" forest employees. "We pay money on monthly basis to some employees of the District Forest Office and other offices under it," said Bhuttai Sadai of Devipur-5.
A forest official on the condition of anonymity claimed that their efforts to control timber smuggling prove futile, as "their boss did not take any action".
Repeated efforts to contact Acting District Forest Officer Ramananda Prasad Kurmi went in vain.
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