10 Committee officials to face case over massive deforestation in Gaurighat community forest

Kanchanpur: Committee officials and members have been implicated in a large-scale deforestation incident in the Gaurighat community forest located in Krishnapur Municipality-7, Kaluwapur. The Division Forest Office, Kanchanpur, stated that a case is being prepared against 10 working committee members, including the chairman, based on the investigation conducted by the office. The investigation file has been submitted to the District Government Attorney's Office, Kanchanpur.

Bharat Shah, Chief of the Sub-Division Forest Office, Bani, said that the file was prepared after questioning officials and members, conducting on-site observations, and recording statements. Discussions were also held with local representatives before submitting the case to the Government Attorney's Office.

In the second week of Mangsir, approximately 10 hectares of community forest in the middle of the settlement were destroyed within one and a half hours. The area, previously filled with Sisau and Khayar trees, has now become deserted. The investigation confirmed that 164 trees were cut down on the afternoon of Mangsir 11.

According to the Forest Office, the felled trees included 135 Khayar trees measuring 16 to 84 inches in thickness, 28 Sisau trees measuring 24 to 64 inches, and 1 Kanju tree. Of the felled trees, 61 Golia Khayar trees totaling 9,101.55 cubic feet and 41 Golia Sisau trees totaling 981.03 cubic feet of wood have been recovered.

The total compensation claimed for the deforestation amounts to Rs 1.44 million. The case has been forwarded with demands for a double fine of the compensation and two years of imprisonment for each individual, in accordance with the Forest Act.