: (1) No forest area with trees shall be used for settlement or resettlement notwithstanding anything written in the existing law. (2) Sub-section (1) Notwithstanding anything written, disaster affected If such an area needs to be used for the rehabilitation of individuals or national pride projects, the Government of Nepal may use such area for settlement and rehabilitation after making a decision with a clear action plan.
(3) The trees existing in the settled and resettled lands as per sub-section (2) shall remain in the ownership of the Government of Nepal since the time when such land was granted. Such trees should be removed by the Government of Nepal as soon as possible.
(4) A person who removes the trees mentioned in sub-section (3) without the permission of the authorized officer shall be punished as if he commits an offense in the national forest.