The Ministry of Forest and Environment has recalled Direct Forest Officer (DFO) Bhairab Prasad Ghimire to Kathmandu for his dubious role in smuggling wood worth Rs 20 million out of Sahajnath Sajhedari Forest.

The ministry transferred Under Secretary Gyanendra Mishra to replace Ghimire.Mishra said he would join duty within a couple of days.A probe, led by Ministry Joint Secretary Chandra Man Dangol, found Bhairab Ghimire, Assistant Forest Officers Amar Dev Prasad Yadav and Bindeshwor Prasad Patel, guilty of helping smugglers illegally smuggle out wood worth Rs 20 million from local forests to India and other regions. In its report, the fact-finding panel recommended the ministry to remove immediately the tainted officials from office. One-and-a-half month ago, the Sahajnath Sajhedari Forest Management Committee had drawn the attention of Minster for Forest and Environment Shakti Basnet to take action against the guilty.Minister Basnet had expressed firm commitment to take action against those involved in dubious activities.In another case, Under Secretary Sambhu Tiwari has replaced Under Secretary and District Forest Officer Ram Bichari Thakur, accused of dubious timber dealings.