Chairman Arrested for Illegally Cutting Trees in Saraswati Community Forest, Kailali

Dhangadhi: The illegal felling of trees has been reported in the Saraswati community forest located in Bhajani, Kailali. Budhram Choudhary, the Chairman of the community forest, has been apprehended following allegations of cutting down large trees under the guise of clearing bushes.

Members of the CPN's youth organization took action against Chairman Choudhary, handing him over to the forest office after discovering the unauthorized tree cutting activity. While bush clearing is permitted as part of the annual program for the community forest, concerns were raised when it was observed that large trees, including Jamun Lagat trees, were also being felled.

Nitesh Bhatrai, the head of the sub-division forest office in Sukhad, confirmed Chairman Chaudhary's arrest and stated that an investigation is underway. Authorities are currently probing the annual program and assessing the extent of timber extraction from the forest.