KATHMANDU, June 19: The Agriculture, Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee under the House of Representatives today sat for discussions with experts in regard with the 'Forest Bill-2075 BS'.
According to Committee President Purna Kumari Subedi, experts concerned were summoned for discussions at the Singha Durbar to take their views on the matter. As she said, those issues missing from the document would be incorporated after discussions with the experts.
Forest guard fire aerial shots to disperse timber smugglers
Forest expert Naya Sharma Poudel was of the view that the bill should focus on making the local-level more responsible. The conservation of forest would be easier if local people were entitled to more rights in the conservation efforts. The participation of locals is vital to protest forest products.
Another expert Uday Sharma saw the need for revising the bill as many issues had been left out of the document. Matters relating to the conservation of wildlife and forest products and formation of the Tree Transplantation Authority have been missed in the bill, according to him.
Committee member Gyan Kumari Chhantyal claimed that deforestation was taking place in collusion with forest employees, and the issues should be taken seriously. Another committee members Shantimaya Pakhrin, Radha Gyawali and Bhupendra Thapa spoke the need for conserving the Chure region and deforestation taking place in the name of development.
