PALPA, May 16 -- Forest officials estimate that 182 sal trees have been cut down at Baldhengadhi in Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Municipality-7, Palpa, in the last month alone. However, locals claim that the number stands at 272.

Sal trees in the Jabune Community Forest and Chandra Aakar Community Forest are being cut down without the consent of the forest officials for purposes that remain undefined. According to the locals, the trees were cut down on the pretext of extending an electricity line through the forest area. The forest officials say this move is neither authorised not endorsed by the Division Forest Office (DFO).

Mohan Paudel, division forest officer, Palpa, said, "We don't know why so many sal trees were felled. We weren't eve...