She claimed that even when the government has imposed a ban on export of woods, forests officials including the forests minister, forests secretary and district forest officers are involved in deforestation. [break]
Speaking at a press meet here, Chaudhary said Bohara is engaged in “fraudulent activities”. She added that the contractors are now motivated to continue their illegal activities as no action has been initiated even when the issue is brought to the attention of the government.
“The government can take no action. The forests minister shows faked documents and we are only watching even when trees are being cut rapidly,” she said.
The government has put a ban on export of woods under the direction of the parliamentary committee.
“The government has failed to implement the committee´s direction,” she stated.
She also said those officials involved in the deforestation activities must be punished.
“We have asked the government to punish many officials on the basis of our reports, but nothing has happened,” Chaudhary said.
She said it is now becoming difficult to save the forests as the forests officials and members of community forests are involved in illegal activities.
On the issue of Banke National Park, Chaudhary said that the issue has been raised in the committee only unofficially. She said forest users´ groups´ consent is a must to declare the park. Forest users´ groups of Banke, Bardiya, Dang and Salyan have been protesting against the decision of the government to declare Banke National Park.
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