Timber worth millions rotting in Madhesh as red tape stalls auctions

Officials blame legal grey areas, jurisdiction confusion for years of delay in selling timber.

Large quantities of valuable sal ( Shorea robusta ) timber lie abandoned and overrun by shrubs near the Lamaha bridge on the East-West Highway in Madhesh province. Despite their high market value, these logs are rotting due to failures in government management and auction processes, which has led to a substantial loss of revenue.