ANNAPURNA POST

GREEN WEALTH: Since mid-February Maoists have been cutting down sissau trees from Pumori Agro Forestry in Kumrose, Chitwan, whisch is spread over 42 of the 55 hectares of PUmori\'s land. They claim they are onlu chopping down trees that are dry, dying, or useless, but have also sold them to middlemen and bricks kilns, or taken them to the temporary camps.

Pumori bought 55 hectares forests lands over a period of nine years from 1992-2001, but the Maoists forcefullu took over it on 23 March 2004. They stared felling trees on 16 February and last week the company sent a letter to the chief district officer requesting that the cutting of trees to be stopped right away.it is understood that this year alone the Maoists have cut bamboo worth Rs 500,000 and wood worth Rs 1 million. (Annapurna Post)