Banke, June 15 :

Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation Gopal Rai has said he has taken seriously the issue of deforestation in Banke district adding that those involved in the timber smuggling would be punished.

Talking to The Himalayan Times over the phone today, Minister Rai said the report submitted by the three member team headed by the joint secretary of the Ministry, Jamuna Krishna Tamrakar, is under study and those found guilty would be punished. He said that the Banke district forest officer, krishna Raj Basukala, who is under the investigation in illegal deforestation is replaced by new officer Yogendra Yadav. Stating that he has received enough information that Hariya Sal species are being cut down across Rapti zone, he said, “I am planning to take serious steps in this regard.” He also said that a new team would look into the matter and carry an in-depth investigation as soon as the new officer Yadav despatches the report.

Minister Rai said, “The timber smugglers will be punished as per the demand of the people.” The team led by the joint secretary, Jamuna Krishna Tamrakar, which arrived for investigation into the illegal felling of trees, returned without doing its job effectively. But a new team had to arrive again under the pressure of the media, which had collected evidences that the trees in fact were cut down illegally. It is estimated that trees worth Rs 400 million were cut down illegally in the region.