In various community forest user groups of Matha Garhi rural municipality-5 and 6 of Palpa, the wood cut during the construction of Kali Gandaki electricity transmission line has reached a state of rotting. The wood worth more than 20 million has reached a state of decay after the tenders were not received even after the Division Forest Office published notices for sale several times.
In 5 community forests of Hattilung and Gothadi of Matha Garhi rural municipality, the wood cut three years ago is lying in the forest. Bir Bahadur Bahrghare, President of Bhavana Community Forest Consumer Group, Hattilung, said that 25 thousand 30 cubic feet of wood cut in the community forest has reached a state of rotting. "The trees were felled according to the order to build the electricity transmission line in Kaligand," he said ; This community forest has a lot of 'A' grade wood .
During the construction of the Kali Gandaki Power Transmission Line 220 KVA, thousands of trees were cut in Bhavna, Goredanda, Maloutachoupari, Matha Gadhi and Toklakdi community forests of Mathagadi. Sal, Asna, Jamun, Tuni species of five community forests have not been sold. According to the Division Forest Office, notices have been published on 2080 Kartik 23, 2080 Chait 14 and Chait 30 of Bhavna Community Forest.
Maloutachoupari Community Forest was also published on the same date. Matha Garhi Community Forest has been notified on 21st November 2080 by the Division Forest Office. "Despite publishing the information, there was no contract bid," said Khil Bahadur Tamang, information officer of Division One, "so far, we have not been able to sell the wood." Even though the wood of the forest is scarce, the loss to both consumers and the state has increased due to not being able to sell it.' Nirkumari Darlami, president of Mathagadi Community Forest, said that the wood is rotting in the forest due to lack of sale.
If he could sell wood through tender in his community forest, the goal was to earn 50 to 60 million. "There was a tender but no one bid," she said, "the wood rotted." The woodworking contractor has said that according to the current government's policy, they cannot bid for wood tenders. Locals said that the wood lying in the forest is the border with Rupandehi and may have been stolen.
In recent years, most of the forests have grown under the protection of local people. Due to the lack of sale of wood from such community forests, forest user groups and the state have suffered a loss in revenue. According to the Division Forest Office, the 3,819 cubic feet cut during the construction of Kaligand's transmission line is of 'A' grade.
More than 20,000 cubic feet of wood of 'B', 'C' and 'D' grades have been stored in the forest. Divisional Forest Officer Narayandev Bhattarai said that the wood could not be sold due to no weeding despite the tender. According to him, if there was a bid in the tender, it would have been sold a year ago. He said that the wood that was sitting in the forest, basking in the sun, was not being sold.
During the construction of transmission line of Kaligand, the consumers of other places of Palpa have shared for firewood . According to the Division Forest Office, the residents of Tinau and Bagnaskali Rural Municipality managed their own wood and firewood.
The community forest consumer group should deposit 25 percent of the income of the wood sold outside the group in the revenue account of the Provincial Accumulated Fund and 75 percent in the account of the group. Narayandev Bhattarai, head of Division Forest, said that 741 rupees should be paid to the state.
