Makawanpur: – Prime Minister KP Oli has expanded the cabinet on Poush-10 after seven ministers from the Prachanda-Madhav faction resigned in masse. After the resignation of Forest Minister Shakti Basnet, he has appointed Prem Ale in the vacant Ministry of Forest and Environment.

However, it has been revealed that Ale, who has been given the responsibility of the Minister of Water and Environment, has been accused of timber smuggling in the past.

He had been taken to the court in charge of cutting down a pine tree in ward 8 and 5 of his own VDC. His permanent home is in Chhatiwan VDC-9, Doti.

It is mentioned in the indictment that the current minister Ale smuggled timber with Radheshyam Badair of Chhatiwan-8 on 10th of Baishakh in 2055 BS.

The indictment states that Magar and Badair cut 11 thousand 232.84 cu ft of pine. Forest ranger Prem Bahadur Khadka had registered a case against them demanding a fine of Rs 899,000.

Radheshyam Badair, a resident of Ward No. 8 of Chhatiwan VDC and Prem Bahadur Ale, a resident of Ward No. 9 of the same VDC were found to have cut down pine trees in the forest of Chhatiwan VDC-8 and 5 on Baishakh-10. As they were not found, they should be removed from the range post and the incident site should be inspected and action should be taken, ‘said the report of forest ranger Khadko.

Even after Badair’s arrest, Ale, who received political patronage, remained silent. According to the news published by online news, both the accused were acquitted by the district court on 14 April 2057.

Magar was also a member of the sub-committee formed by the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives to conduct an on-site study on scientific forest management.