Wood worth Rs 70m decaying at Dharan's Sub-Division Forest Office

DHARAN: The valuable wood collected at the Sub-Division Forest Office in Tinkune, Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City-8, is left to decay. The wood, logged and stored at the offices in Panchakanya and Bishnupaduka for nearly two decades, is deteriorating as contracts for its use could not be finalised on time.

According to Mahesh Kumar Saha, Chief of the Sub-Division Forest Office in Panchakanya, 15,000 cubic feet of logs are perishing in the offices due to repeated failures in bidding for their sale. Confiscated wood has been piled up for years.  The 'A grade' wood costs Rs 1,200 per cubic foot, 'B grade' Rs 900, and 'C grade' Rs 650.

Dik Bahadur Bhujel, Chairman of the Nepal Forest Products Entrepreneurs' Association, attributed the wood's deterioration to complicated rules and policies. He said despite the variety of wood produced within the country, government policy and employees' lack of concern and efficiency have rendered the wood worthless.

In the fiscal year 2023/24 alone, the District Forest Office, Sunsari, collected 64,500 cubic feet of wood. Forest Officer Khudris Miya acknowledged that lengthy court processes and hindrances have delayed the timely sale of the wood.

Meanwhile, timber entrepreneurs have accused the government of creating an artificial shortage of wood and timber by importing wood from abroad while allowing domestic wood to decay.

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