Sankhuwasabha, April 10:

As the security personnel were busy with the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections, smuggling of Khayar (cutch trees) has been on rise in the district. The locals are worried that the forest of cutch trees trees — that is in the southern part of the districts — might completely be destroyed.

Over 500 quintals of cutch trees trees from the district’s Chainpur, Baneshwor, Kharang, Ankhibhui and Mamiling including other VDCs are being exported to the Tarai districts and India through Terhathum’s Basantapur and Dhankuta’s Leguwa VDCs, said Bishnu Pathak.

Those indulged in smuggling and deforestation claim that they have the licence from the government, locals said. “They are active more at night,” Chhiring Lama, said, adding that they load cutch trees on dozens of truck and ferry to various Tarai districts.

Sometimes, they throw these cutch trees logs in the Arun river and collect from Sunsari’s Chatara, local villagers said. Cutch trees is best for furniture and Kattha industry. CDO Mukunda Adhikari said the smugglers benefited as the security personnel are busy in the CA polls. “It will be curbed after polls.”