Kathmandu, September 3

The Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation is all set to appoint new director general at the Department of Forests by next week.

According to sources at the ministry, preparations were under way to appoint Krishna Prashad Acharya, incumbent director general at the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation, as the new director general of DoF. Acharya has close ties with the Nepali Congress.

This would be the first time for a candidate from non-forestry sector to be appointed the DoF DG. “The minister is not concerned about whether the candidate is from the forestry sector. His only concern is that the DG should be a person with close ties to his party — the Nepali Congress,” the source told The Himalayan Times on condition of anonymity, adding that Acharya’s name had been confirmed for the post.

The source further claimed that Acharya had left the country to attend World Conservation Congress of International Union for Conservation of Nature, which began on September 1 in Hawaii, USA, after his name was confirmed as DoF DG.  The congress is concluding on September 10.

“If no sudden change takes place, Acharya will be announced as new DG of forest department while he would be attending the IUCN congress,” the source said.

The entire forestry sector has expressed disappointment at preparations being made to appoint DG from non-forestry sector. Earlier,former forest minister Mahesh Acharya had changed his decision at last the moment when he appointed Rajan Pokharel as DoF DG instead of Krishna Prasad Acharya.

“We are worried about appointment of DG from non-forestry sector,” a member of Nepal Foresters’ Association said, adding, “The forest department needs a person who can manage forests in the country and not someone who is conservation-oriented.”

There were three other candidates eyeing the post, but Acharya emerged as the strongest candidate due to his close ties with the Nepali Congress.