Banke Mahara Collaborative Forest has started to construct a ‘Green Park’ in the dense forest near the Banke stream in Bardibas Municipality-11, Mahottari district. The park will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 128 million.

Ram Lal Sah, chairman of the Banke Mahara Collaborative Forest, said that construction works to build a model park for Province 2 has started.

“The trees of the forest will not be cut down. They will be painted with colours to make them look attractive. Inside the park, there will be a stage for weddings, a swimming pool, gardens, and 29 other stalls which will showcase the identity of Mahottari district,” said Sah.

Locals, who live with the threat of wild animals and poachers in the area, are happy with the start of the park’s construction.

Dhana Bahadur Magar, a resident of Bardibas-11, said that after the park is constructed, they will not have to face the threats of wild animals and poachers.

Bharat Sah, a lawmaker in Mahottari, said they also plan to construct a zoo near the park in the future.  “We can develop the area as a national tourism destination,” said Sah. Sah has allocated Rs 2 million for the construction of the park from the Constituency infrastructure special programme.

Dhanraj Lama, ward chairman of Bardibas-11, said the park will be the identity of the district. “It has been estimated that around 500,000 tourists will arrive in Bardibas after the construction of the Green Park,” said Lama.

Forest officials said that the construction of the park will be completed within two years.