Tree felling is rampant of late in the national forests and Chure range in Saptari district.

Smugglers have been cutting down trees and selling the timber from the forests in the district. The district covers 35,000 hectares of national forestland. Smugglers have been cutting down trees at Gangatedanda taking the advantage of geographical remoteness. Even forest employees could not reach Gangate area which is 15km from Area Police Office in Daulatpur.

On January 10, Area Forest Office in Daulatpur had seized 25 cubic feet of Saal wood and arrested five persons at Gangatedanda. The forest office has issued a warrant in the name of 22 people who are at large after chopping trees on the same day, said Dev Narayan Jha, assistant forest officer. (PR)