Two Dang forest officials suspended
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DANG, JAN 31 - Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation has suspended two officers at Gadawa Area Forest Office of Dang after finding them guilty on deforestation charge.
As a recent secretary-level decision of the ministry, Gadawa Area Forest Office chief Amarkant Jha and his deputy Rajendra Rai Yadav were suspended for their involvement in deforestation at Deukhuri region across the Rapti river. The decision, which came into effect from Tuesday, was based on the field investigation conducted by two teams from the ministry and the Department of Forest.
After finding his involvement in timber smuggling, the District Forest Office (DFO), Dang, had decided to transfer Jha one month ago. Jha had, however, managed to thwart the transfer using his political connections. He had threatened to transfer the District Forest Officer instead.
Meanwhile, the ministry has also directed the DDO to investigate into Deukhuri deforestation case and take action against the guilty.
Gokul Chaudhary, assistant officer at the DFO, said three persons associated with Gangapur-based Saljhandi Community Forest Users' Group have been taken into custody in this regard. Similarly, 13 members of the community forest, including its Chairperson Sharada Chaudhary, have been summoned for interrogation.
Also, the central member of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik (MJF-L), Chaudhary has been accused of involvement in timber smuggling racket with the support of the party leader and Forest Minister Mohammad Wakil Musalman.
Local people and the Dang chapter of the Federation of Community Forest Users' Nepal had claimed that many MJF-L activists were involved in the deforestation at Deukhuri with the support of the party leaders. The investigation conducted by the ministry and the forest department, however, concluded that the deforestation was perpetrated with the assistance of the local community forest members and the staff at the local forest office.
Posted on: 2012-01-31 11:59
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