KATHMANDU, Oct 27: Lawmakers have demanded that security of the people residing in the buffer zone should be guaranteed.
Taking part in the deliberations on the amendment bill (fifth) relating to the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act-1973 at a meeting of the Environment Protection Committee that held at the Singha Durbar today, lawmakers present called for granting the rights of the buffer zone communities.
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Lawmaker Rajaram Syangtan said any cutoff on the facilities entitled to the buffer zone people would make them agitated and this must be kept in mind while amending the Act.
Lawmaker Bir Bahadur Balayar said people residing near the parks, wildlife reserves and other protected forest areas are continued to fall prey to attacks of wild animals, underlining need of guaranteeing their security through the fifth amendment to the Act.
Lawmaker Parbat Gurung, articulating the need of an effective enforcement of the Act, said programs capable of contributing to the socio-economic development of the communities in the buffer zone should be introduced and implemented.
Lawmaker Prakash Jwala stressed the need of proper management of the buffer zone and further ensuring the security of the buffer zone communities.
At the meeting, Secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation Krishna Chandra Poudel said the area covering by the buffer zone and protected areas in the country makes up 32 per cent of the total land and the government plans to expand this area. However, there is no government policy of merging the buffer zone with the protected area. RSS
