Kumar Luintel

Damak, February 18:

Ratawamai Forestation Project (RFP) and locals have joined hands to check the increasing illegal logging from the RFP area. The RFP covers some 3,000 hectares of area from Kerkha section of Mahendra highway and Chulachuli VDC in the north to Ratuwakhola in the west, Maikhola in the east.

Jaya Lal Saha, the RFP chief said it was becoming very hard for them to stop the logging. “It’s true that the timbers are being smuggled from the area and we are trying our best to control it”. In 1970, late king Birendra ordered for the evacuation of the encroachers to Kechana and to afforest the land. The forest, being looked after by the government and the locals, is under attack from illegal loggers. According to locals, the trees are felled and transported in nights through the transit points of Ratuwa and Maikhola to Damak, Dhudhe and Dharampur among other commercial centres. Saha said increased patrolling has reduced illegal trading. He added 12 loggers are facing the charge under Forest Act. He added, the patrolling team has recovered 35 cycles laden with timber by January-February.

RFP staffers said they were facing difficulties to conduct patrolling after the Maoists torched two RFP vehicles. Ranger Bhola Yadav said they were forced to travel on foot through the jungle. The forest has several species of trees including Sisau, Saal, and Teak. The staffers said sisau was favourite among loggers. A resident of Kerkha Prem Gurung said each evening one can see upto 50 people carrying away timber on the highway. The RFP has handed over 150 hectares of pasture and three hectares for herb plantation to locals of Satasidham VDC. The RFP hopes that this gesture would activate locals to work towards forest conservation.