KATHMANDU, JUN 27 -
Leaders of political parties and government officials on Sunday expressed serious concern over non-implementation of the anti-graft body’s direction to investigate the alleged district forest officers.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on June 18 had directed the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation (MoFSC) to take action against 16 DFOs for their involvement in deforestation.

Speaking at an interaction organised by CPN-UML, Indra Bahadur Dangi of National Vigilance Centre said despite the reports of rampant deforestation publicised by different high level committees, the forest ministry and its concerned department has not even started any investigation process.

“The MoFSC has not even tried to circulate letters or call individual DFOs,” he said.

According to Dangi, during the field visits conducted by NVC recently, political leaders, community forest users’ groups, DFOs and

other junior forest officials was found behind the increasing deforestation in Tarai and Chure regions.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) leader Thakur Sharma said arbitrary transfer of 26 DFOs by the forest minister to different Tarai districts was the major cause of deforestation in the recent months.

Such an act has raised questions against Forest Minister Deepak Bohora, who is a RPP leader. 

“If Bohora is found guilty, our party will definitely be ready to take action against Bohora,” he said.  

Chief of Central Natural Resources and Management Depar-tment Pradeep Nepal said all political parties should take strong action against timber smugglers. Over 100,000 hectares of forests are  encroached in different districts, acco-rding to reports.

Posted on: 2010-06-28 09:13

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