Almost half of the forest land in the stretch -- spread over 95,000 hectares in Dadeldhura, Doti, and Baitadi - has already been destroyed. According to district forest offices of the concerned districts, encroachments have been reported in Laxminagar VDC in Doti, around 2 dozen places in Samauji and Ajayameru VDCs in Dadeldhura and over 3 dozen places in Mahakali and Pancheshwor VDC s in Baitadi.[break]
“Forests are being encroached in multiple places. We will immediately expedite our efforts to check encroachment,” said Laxman Raj Josi, assistant district forest officer of Dadeldhura. “Our efforts are not gaining momentum due to budget crunch.
Forests in Mahabharat range are rich in water resources. There are many lakes in these forests which are fast drying up due to massive deforestation. Also, the number of wild species like leopard, bear and wild goats, among others is decreasing because of destruction of their habitat.
Conversation experts have demanded that government take immediate initiatives for the conservation of forest areas in the Mahabharat range.
“Apart from holding an all-party meeting, nothing has been done in this direction so far,” said Rishiram Tiwari, chief district officer of Dadeldhura and chairman of Forest Encroachment Control Committee.
Forest areas near Laxminagar VDC in Doti and Dadeldhura up to the Mahakali VDC in Baitadi fall in the western part of Mahabharat range. These forests are rich in medicinal herbs such as Indian gooseberry, Indian Valerian, Chebula and Belerica, among others.
“Though the meeting of district council held last year had decided to declare the section of Mahabharat Range as a protected area, it has not materialized so far,” Karna Malla, district president of Nepali Congress in Dadeldhura, said. “The section should be declared a protected area at the earliest.”
Acting district forest officer Joshi said they were preparing to evict encroachers under three phases.
Squatters advancing
Landless settlers are massively encroaching upon the 96 km stretch of Mahabharat Range in Dadeldhura lately.
Officials said squatters are attracted toward the Mahabharat Range because of two reasons: to involve in poaching and in search of habitat.
There are around two dozen squatters´ settlement in the Mahabharat forests in the district alone.
“The forest areas in Mahabharat Range is being encroached at a fast pace,” CDO Tiwari said, adding, “If immediate action is not taken to check illegal advances, the entire forest area will turn to a human settlements.”