Gaighat, July 15

Locals have accused officers of Saraswoti Community Forest of Risku VDC-8, Udayapur of felling trees illegally.

Locals complained that Forest Users’ Group Chairman Surya Tamang logged more than 100 saal trees in the jungle of Ratepani.

Though forest users and locals registered a written complaint against Surya at Area Forest Office, Katari, the authorities have not taken any action against him. Forest users and locals alleged that Surya was working in cahoots with the forest officials.

Joint secretary of Forest Users’ Group Tek Bahadur Tamang said, “Since the forest office has failed to take action against Surya despite the locals registering a written complaint against him, we suspect the forest officials are involved in the logging of trees.”

A local Himal Tamang said Surya would chop the trees and sell them to timber contractors. He shared that officials at Sector Forest Office, Katari had warned the locals when they reached the office to file a complaint.

Tek Bahadur accused Surya, secretary Karna Bahadur and treasurer Rammaya Tamang of embezzling Rs 2.5 million received through the sale of timber. Locals today registered a complaint against the trio at the DFO citing their involvement in tree felling and financial irregularities.

Assistant Forest Officer at the DFO Ram Kumar Thakur said a three-member probe committee led by Narayan Shrestha, forest chief at Sector Forest Office, Katari was formed to look into the case after the complaint was filed.

Surya has admitted to felling some trees, but denied his involvement in any financial irregularity.