KATHMANDU, Jan 28: A proposal to restructure the President Chure-Terai Madhesh Conservation Development Committee, the main Chure conservation authority, has been drafted. The committee, facing dissolution and merger into the Ministry of Forests and Environment, has voiced its opposition to the ministry’s plan.
Facing increasing criticism of the proposed dissolution, the ministry explained the plan is to restructure, not disband, the committee. A Ministry of Forests and Environment committee tasked with creating a Chure region technical report suggested replacing itself with a new committee, chaired by the Minister or State Minister, and including other specialists.
The committee, formed under the leadership of Bhupal Baral, Chief of the Administrative Division at the Ministry, includes Shobhakar Regmi as the member secretary, along with members such as the ministry's Joint Secretary Meghnath Kafle, Dr Maheshwar Dhakal, Badri Raj Dhungana, and the then Joint Secretary Dr Sindhu Dhungana.
The member secretary of the committee, Shobhakar Regmi, said that the report, suggesting changes to the current structure while ensuring no hindrance to Chure conservation, has been submitted to the Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri.
"The current structure of the Chure committee has become expensive, and there are issues in mobilizing resources. There are also internal conflicts within the committee," said Regmi.
"As per the formation order under the ministry, we have submitted a report suggesting that the committee be chaired by the same minister to ensure the sustainability of Chure conservation. It is uncertain whether this will be implemented or not." Regmi also mentioned that when appointing members to the board, it was suggested that experts in the relevant fields be selected.
Forest Minister Shahi stated that no further processes have moved forward after the suggestions were submitted. "There has been no discussion with the Prime Minister regarding the dissolution of the committee, so no process has advanced," he said. "We are not against conservation. The work will proceed to effectively advance Chure conservation activities. The process of dissolving the committee has not moved forward for now."
The ministry's secretary, Dr Deepak Kumar Kharal, said that there has been a discussion on restructuring the committee rather than dissolving it, with the aim of making Chure conservation activities more effective by including provincial and local levels in the process.
"To make the conservation and management of the Chure-Terai-Madhesh region more effective, a review and assessment have been conducted on the current committee's work, actions, structure, scope, jurisdiction, budget programs, master plans, organizational arrangements, staff deployment, inter-provincial coordination, and inclusiveness," he said.
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He also expressed objection to some senior officials and others who have been advocating for the dissolution of the committee, claiming that they are attempting to undermine the committee's efforts in Chure conservation.
Former President Dr Ram Baran Yadav expressed that the preparation to dissolve the Chure committee is a wrong idea. "During my tenure, the committee was formed after extensive discussions with experts, scientists, and stakeholders for the conservation of the Chure region," he said.
"There should be no negligence in safeguarding the Chure, which is the storehouse of food and water. It would be appropriate to establish the committee as a separate autonomous body through legislation. Let’s operate the committee with the involvement of Chure scientists," former President Yadav said.
Dr Yadav emphasized that if Chure conservation is not prioritized, more than 50 percent of the population residing in the Chure region will face difficulties in earning their livelihoods. He also stressed the need to shut down unregulated crusher industries and give priority to Chure conservation, focusing on protecting the region's biodiversity.
"One should not make an immature decision to dissolve the committee responsible for the conservation of the Chure region, which carries Nepal's identity," former President Yadav said. "If this happens, there is a risk of disrupting people's livelihoods. The conservation of the Chure is essential for our water, food production, and security."
It was under his initiative that the Chure program was declared a national pride project. Even now, Yadav continues to advocate for the protection of the Chure.
Don’t make imprudent moves: Former Forest Minister Acharya
Former Forest Minister Mahesh Acharya has requested a discussion with experts before making a decision to dismantle the committee, emphasizing that the legal and institutional arrangements initiated earlier for the conservation of Chure should not be abolished.
"Nearly half of the country's population living in the Terai region depends on the balanced ecological system of the Chure. For years, Chure has provided food, water, wood, fuel, shelter for rare wildlife, and protection from natural disasters. If the ecological system of Chure deteriorates or if there is negligence in Chure conservation efforts, the country may face unimaginable damage," he said.
Former Forest Minister Acharya expressed that immature policy decisions that harm the sensitive ecological systems of our Himalayas, hills, and Chure-Madhesh regions would be considered an environmental crime, especially at a time when Nepal is increasingly facing the serious consequences of global climate change. He emphasized that any reduction in the government's commitment to Chure conservation or the message that it is no longer a priority could severely damage the country’s reputation internationally.
"For the achievements the country has made in forest resources and biodiversity conservation, Nepal has received international praise. Several bilateral projects with neighboring countries India and China, our involvement in the global carbon trade network, and multilateral cooperation through ICIMOD have made Nepal's role in environmental protection recognized at the global level," he said. "This recognition and effort should not be lost. Only those who profit from the illegal exploitation and trade of Chure will benefit from the weakening of the conservation campaign."
During Acharya's tenure as the Forest Minister, on his recommendation, the "President Chure-Terai-Madhesh Conservation Development Committee (Formation) Order 2014" was issued on June 16, 2014, using the authority granted under Section 3 of the Development Board Act, 2013.
Former Chairman Rameshwar Khanal, an economist, also raised objections to the decision to dissolve the committee, stating that it would be wrong to proceed in that direction. "If the people in the committee are not working according to the plan, they can be removed and experts can be appointed, but the committee should not be dissolved," he said. "It is essential to bring in experts who understand the importance of Chure by granting legal authority to the committee."
Former Chairman Khanal suggested that the master plan should be implemented correctly and emphasized the need for restructuring the committee in a way that increases the role of provincial governments, ensuring their representation.
Board officials not informed about proposal
When discussing the dissolution of the committee with officials of the President Chure-Tarai Madhesh Conservation Development Board, they responded that they were uninformed about the matter. Board President Dr Kiran Poudel mentioned that he had also learned about it through the media, adding that he did not have any official information regarding the dissolution of the committee.
Board member Kamala Oli Shivakoti stated that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had provided brief information about the ongoing discussions on the dissolution of the committee, but the decision had not yet been made.
Opposing opinions of stakeholders
There are two opposing views regarding whether the committee should be dissolved. Thakur Bhandari, president of the Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN), accused the committee of working against the interests of the people and stated that it should be dissolved. "Investment in the Chure region has been like water in the sand. How can Chure conservation be done without involving the community?" he questioned.
Chure expert Bijay Singh emphasized that the committee should move forward by addressing its shortcomings and suggested that dissolution is not the solution. "The government might be considering this decision because of the committee's weaknesses. However, the focus should be on solving those weaknesses, not on dissolution," he said.
Sunil Yadav, the National Coordinator of the Chure and Forest Conservation Campaign Nepal and a Chure activist, stated that dissolving the committee would harm Chure conservation and opposed changing its structure. "The Chure committee, established under the name of the President, is working towards conserving Chure and protecting the Madhesh and Terai. If there is corruption within the committee, the concerned individuals should be held accountable, but dissolving the committee would be unjust to the people of Chure," he said. "The committee needs to be made stronger and more effective."
Impact on constitutional arrangements: legal expert
Senior Advocate and Environmental Law Expert, Prakash Mani Sharma, stated that if the decision to dissolve the Chure Committee is made, it would violate the citizens' constitutional right to live in a clean environment as stipulated under Article 30 of the Constitution, thereby affecting the constitutional arrangements.
"Since Chure's conservation is extremely important, the committee was formed through an order under the President's program. While the government has the right to dissolve the committee, doing so would overshadow the issues related to Chure, which is a sensitive area requiring protection. This would be unjust. It would impact the constitutional framework," Sharma said. He emphasized that the committee should be made an independent body.
