An investigation is underway into the chairman of the Quang Thanh Commune in Dak Nong Province, who has been suspended over the loss of more than 100 hectares of forest.
 |
Pham Cong Chien, chairman of Quang Thanh Commune was suspended May 1 for four months by Ngo Van Linh, chairman of the People's Committee of Gia Nghia Town, over the mass deforestation.
Chien is accused of lax management and letting a large area of forest be destroyed without timely preventive measures or reporting to higher authorities.
Inspectors found in the first three months of this year 51 instances totalling destruction of 109 hectares of forest. But official reports covered only 24 cases.
The forest ranger unit in Gia Nghia said it did not have enough personnel to patrol the areas.