The local timber companies are felling timber from many mountain ranges in northern part of Kyauk Taw Township, an area located in southern Paletwa Township in Chin State for a long time after bribing army officials.

In some mountain ranges in areas like Mi let wa, Min Thar daung and Pe Chaung taung, timber companies have cut timber illegally without permission of the forest department.

The report said, army authorities from Sakhaka, known as Military Operation Planning Bureau, 5 based in Kyauk Taw gave permission to the timber companies to fell timber from the area reasoning to the local people that the income from timber companies are for army funds.

However, local people strongly believe that the income from timber companies are not for army funds but it is for army officials own consumption, the report said.

Many mountain ranges in the northern part of Kyauk Taw Township are now faced with denudation of forest cover because of rampant felling of trees.

The report said, many local people from Sapa Sit, Teen Nyo, Thet ratapin, Nyung Pin Hla have worked in the timber felling leading to deforestation in the region.

According to local reports, many army battalions stationed in Arakan state have been felling timber from nearby forests to sell in local markets for their respective battalion funds. As a result deforestation in Arakan state has become widespread.