National
PWR clears 100ha of its occupied land
Parsa Wildlife Reserve (PWR) has cleared around 100 ha of its forest land taken over by squatters at Syauli in Nirmalbasti VDC.Shankar Acharya
Parsa Wildlife Reserve (PWR) has cleared around 100 ha of its forest land taken over by squatters at Syauli in Nirmalbasti VDC. The PWR authority said the land was being used by the squatters to cultivate crops for the last 30 years.
Chief Conservation Officer Yubaraj Regmi said they have planted saplings of Khayer, Sishau, Simal, Bakaino and other trees in around 50 ha of the repossessed forest land.
“We are also planting saplings in the remaining forest area,” said Regmi.
Around 200 ha of the PWR forest land is still under occupied by landless people.
“We are planning to evict the settlement and recover the forest land soon,” said Regmi.
The PWR’s attempt to evict the forest land seven years ago was foiled by local political parties. Regmi said illegal settlement built on the bio-corridor has threatened the reserve’s wildlife.
Nearly 74 families from places like Makwanpur, Dhading, Sindhupalchok and Parsa are living in the settlement. They say that they will clear the area only after the government has provided them with proper shelters.