The wetlands in Bishkhet area of Kaskikot VDC-6, once home to a variety of wild animals and birds, is now turning into a concrete jungle.[break]
One Kul Bahadur Shrestha owns 10 ropanis of land in the wetlands and he plans to build a hotel in the area. Already threatened by pollution and the inexorable rate of destruction due to human activities, the hotel would further threaten the existence of the wetlands.
Defending his plans, Shrestha said he had been doing everything in accordance with the law. “I bought the land five years ago. As the land has dried up I now plan to build a hotel,” said Shrestha. “I am the owner of the land and there is nothing illegal in me building the hotel there.”
However, locals are against construction of concrete structures in the area. “If everyone starts to build concrete structures, the wetlands will vanish. People need to understand that their actions can destroy the beauty and ecological balance of the wetlands,” said Leknath Parajuli, a local. “People can´t do anything they want.”
Keshab Thapa, a conservationist, said, “Indiscriminate construction would destroy the ecological balance of the area. This will lead to disastrous consequences,” said Thapa.
Meanwhile, Chief District Officer of Kaski Yadav Prasad Koirala has said that he would seriously look into the matter. “The destruction of environment will not be tolerated. We will carry out an investigation into the issue,” said Koirala.
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