By Hari Prasad Koirala, Morang, Jan 5: Timbers collected from community forests for sale have been stranded in the embanking places in Morang district for the last three years. Rural Improvement Community Forest of Kanepokhari -7, Morang, has been facing problems with the decaying of collected logs.

Timbers were cut down and piled up in the fiscal year 2017-2018 (2074-2075 BS) by getting approval of the government but the community forest has been restricted for the sale.

The community forest had cut down approximately 30,000 Cubic feet of timbers that year.

Following a high demand and pressure from the users group, the Division Forest Office allowed 10,000 Cubic feet out of 30,000 Cubic feet for sale last year.

But community forest and its users have faced problems after District Forest Office did not allow the sale of additional timber except 10,000 Cubic feet as the community forest office was yet to send the selling details of the previously approved timber.

Ram Lakhan Thakur, Information Officer at the Division Forest Office, Morang, said that forest officials could not do anything as the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority had been inspecting.  

He added, forest users' committee had not requested the approval of the sale of additional timber.

On 28 May 2020, a Cabinet decision restricted the trade of forest products.

Following the direction of the Government, community forests had made a stack of fallen trees.

Federation of Community Forest Users Group declared agitation against the decision of the Government.

While users group threatened to start agitation by issuing press release the Government allowed the sale of decay-prone and soft timbers only. 

The Government had formed three inspection committees to inspect the economic transparency of community forests and dispute and governance between Scientific Forests and community forests.

Public Accounts Committee having Coordinator Pradeep Yadav, Prime Minister Office formed High-Level Investigation Committee at the chairmanship of Dr. Netra Timsina and Parliamentary committee on Agriculture, Cooperatives and Natural Resources have already submitted reports after completing the field study of concerned districts.