Deforestation in the name of road construction in Bajura, as well as haphazard use of dozers in most under construction roads has triggered rapid tree felling.
Logging is taking place in more than a dozen road projects including Martadi-Kolti, Dab-Khaptad, Tourism and Agriculture Road, Pandusen-Jaggannath, Martadi-Badimalika, Sera-Aatichaur, Wai-Jaggannath road projects launched by District Development Committee. Timber logging has become rampant due to apathy on the part of the DDC and Local Consumers’ Committee, complained locals.
Prem Rawat, a local said dozens of trees felled along the Martadi-Kolti road section has increased the risk of landslips.
Another local, Laxmiraj Padhya, said timber worth millions is being felled at a community forest in Martadi VDC-1.
Community Forest Consumers’ Federation Bajura Chairman Sher Bahadur Shahi said deforestation had worsened after locals pressed for roads running through the jungle area.
Shahi accused the consumers and technicians of building the road arbitrarily. Engineer Jagat Prasad Joshi at District Technician’s Office admitted that road construction work had started without environmental impact evaluation.
District Forest Office Bajura Chief Raju Kshetri said forests had been wiped out in most road project areas. He said pleas to the DDC to check deforestation had fallen on deaf ears.
LDO Yubaraj Paudel said they would construct roads only after environmental impact evaluation. Paudel said it was not always possible to carry out environmental impact evaluation due to the high cost involved.
