Rajbiraj, June 2

Division Forest Office, Saptari, has issued arrest warrant against four persons, including Saptakoshi Municipality Mayor Uttam Sharma, for constructing a channel without taking approval from the authority concerned.

Division Chief Dhirendra Singh said the office had issued an arrest warrant against Sharma, Ward No 1 Chairperson Narayan Acharya, Tularam Luintel and Durga Phuyal of the municipality for constructing a channel illegally in the forest area. He added the arrest warrant was issued today when the district court permitted it to do so on the basis of the hearing on a writ filed in the court on Friday. He said the accused have used JCB in the national forest area illegally for construction of the channel.

Singh said they reached the court after the municipality’s neglect despite frequent warnings against the illegal act. He added the municipality had remained silent though forest staffers were deployed. He said security personnel of the forest office were deployed to arrest the accused today. Singh said the office would take help of police and the court if the accused defied security personnel deployed from the forest office.

Saptakoshi Municipality Mayor Sharma said they were constructing the channel with the aim of providing service and security to the people and a solution would be sought through the legal process.