Timber trees

KATHMANDU, MAR 16 -

The government and local community forest users’ groups in Dadeldhura district are at loggerheads over the sale of more than 700,000 cubic feet of timber stored after a massive deforestation drive some two years ago.

The tussle between the government and local community is due to a great sum of money involved. The timber is expected to fetch around Rs 240 million. The market price for one cubic feet of timber ranges from Rs 3,500-4,000.

Following a corruption case filed by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), a preliminary hearing at the Special Court recently ordered the Dadeldhura District Forest Office to sell the timber and place the money obtained in a bank.

However, local community users’ groups have stood against decision. The timber , which was cut down illegally, is now verging on decay.

“The timber is the property of the community. The government has no authority to sell our property,” said Chandra Dev Bohara, chairperson of the Federation of Community Forestry Users’ Group Nepal (Fecofun) Dadeldhura chapter.

One hundred and eight community forest users registered with the DFO have jointly protested the government decision, making the same argument.

However, the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation is adamant about implementing the court order. “The court has already ordered the DFO to sell the timber and deposit the amount in a bank. So the government will act accordingly,” said the Ministry’s Spokesperson Krishna Acharya.

Acharya, however, said that the government may return the amount to the community forest once the court issues a final verdict. The court has only concluded the preliminary hearing and all of the accused have been released on bail. Its final verdict has yet to be issued.

Last September, the CIAA had filed a corruption case against 196 individuals including forest officers, representatives of community forest users’ groups and timber entrepreneurs, accusing them of being involved in deforestation in the Chure area of the farwestern region.

Among the accused are 180 from community forestry while 11 are government officials, including Far-western Regional Director Bijaya Raj Poudel.

The CIAA had sought Rs 430.31 million from the accused as fines and legal action in accordance with the law. The CIAA’s investigation had concluded that a total of 7,553,128 cubic feet of wood, worth millions of rupees, had been cut down illegally in Dadeldhura.

Posted on: 2013-03-16 08:30

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