JANAKPURDHAM, Feb 17: Former President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has expressed concern over the fact that the Terai-Madhesh, which was once a breadbasket of food and water, has now become an arena for exploiting natural resources.
Addressing the ‘Ma Nagarik, Ma Banauchu Nepal’ Campaign organized by Nepal Republic Media (NRM) at the Mahendra Narayan Nidhi Cultural Center in Janakpurdham on Sunday, Yadav said, "The campaign of Nepal Republic Media to address the growing frustration among the youth along with nature conservation, climate change, and greenery is commendable."
He said that it is responsible journalism for the media to take the initiative to connect the youth, entrepreneurs, and the state when the government and the state are indifferent to these issues.
“I was born in an agricultural family in a village in inner Madhesh. As a person from the Terai Madhesh, and as a national leader, I understood the nature and life of the mountains; the life, resources and heritage of the rivers and streams too,” he said, “However, everything is being destroyed now. The destruction of mountains, melting glaciers, and worsening climate change deeply trouble me. It is painful to see the future generations facing even more difficulties due to climate change.”
“When everything is exploited and destroyed, we end up losing everything. We must protect nature to provide healthy air and water to our descendants,” he said. He added that he does not oppose development but insists it must not be carried out haphazardly or without control. Development should be nature-friendly and orderly, minimizing damage.
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Speaking about climate change, former President Yadav said, “For decades, the rain cycle has been disrupted. Rain cycles have changed. Sudden heavy rains now trigger floods and landslides, sweeping away villages and destroying crops.”
He added, ‘Nowadays, cold waves hit Madhesh in winter with the temperature so unbearable for people that some people even lose their lives. In the summer, the scorching heat is similarly unbearable. Madhesh, which used to be a paradise, is asphyxiating in a dire situation.”
Expressing concern over the urgent issue of abolishing the President Chure Terai Madhesh Conservation Development Board, he said, “It should be discussed in Parliament. The forests of Madhesh have already been destroyed,” he said, “Now the forests of Chure should not suffer the same fate.”
At the program, Chairman of the Janamat Party, Dr CK Raut, urged young students to contribute to them and pay attention to the development and change plans being implemented in Madhesh Province by the provincial government.
He clarified that since Madhesh Province is considered the most backward in terms of illiteracy and poverty among all provinces, various programs have been introduced to address this. These include increasing literacy rates, providing coding training to up to 10,000 people who have completed higher secondary education or are pursuing a degree, and setting up IT parks.
“One must pursue education that leads to employment opportunities. Earning a degree alone is not sufficient," Dr Raut said.
Dr Raut said that since the responsibility of waste management lies with the local government, people should vote wisely while selecting people's representatives at the local level. “We should also become responsible citizens and clean up the garbage together,” he said.
Madhesh Province Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh stated that many hospitals are operating illegally and urged for their systematic operation according to standards. Despite this, political parties continue to defend illegal practices. Cardiologist Dr Om Murthy Anil emphasized the need for collective efforts to protect the environment, as climate change affects human health.
At the program, NRM Managing Director Samriddhi Gyawali said that collective action is needed to address the impact of climate change.
Similarly, Nimbus Holdings Managing Director Anand Bagaria said that the impact of climate change should be used as an opportunity.
