Large quantity of illegal timber seized in Rukum West

By Our Correspondent 

Rukum West, Apr. 15: The Division Forest Office has recovered a large quantity illegally sawn timber from various areas within Aathbiskot Municipality, Rukum West.

According to Division Forest Office Chief Basanta Babu Shrestha, a total of 1,465 pieces of illegally sawn timber were seized within a week from two separate locations in Aathbiskot.

The timber was recovered from the Jharmare forest area in ward number 2 and the Nayadanda forest area in ward no. 5 of Aathbiskot Municipality. All the seized timber is of the pine species.

The operation was carried out by a team deployed from the Division Forest Office following reports of illegal logging in the national forest area.

Chief Shrestha said that 703 pieces of timber were recovered from the Nayadanda area alone on Monday. The operation was conducted with the involvement of forest officers Khadga Lal Nepali and Kabita Ghale. The seized timber has been transported to the Sub-Division Forest Office in Aathbiskot.

Earlier, on Saturday, during a long-range forest patrol in the Jharmare area, officials had seized illegally sawn timber. A total of 762 pieces of pine timber were recovered from that location and brought to the Division Forest Office.

Officials said the timber was found already cut and prepared, but those involved in the illegal activity have not yet been identified. A search for the perpetrators is ongoing, and legal action will be taken under the Forest Act once identified.

The office launched the enforcement action following repeated complaints of illegal logging and timber trade in community and national forests across the district.