Infrastructure development is crucial for economic development of a country. Environment-friendly and sustainable infrastructure construction even more so. Infrastructure projects such as hydropower, irrigation canal, roads and railways can have harsh environmental impacts if they are not properly planned. But this has become a feature of our development.
Local governance gained prominence after the restoration of democracy in 1990. Since rural road construction activities have increased. Rural road programs started in the mid-1990s at community, local and central levels with a focus on fulfilling access to needs of local people by promoting labor-based, environment-friendly and participatory approaches. Needless to say, roads are important infrastructure: They link the isolated villages with the cities, improve livelihood of the rural people and reduce rural poverty and improve people's access to markets, services and economic opportunities. Rural roads have met some of these goals.
Where logic fails
The environmental damages caused by haphazard road construction are massive and irreversible. Construction without strategic consideration of required road networks has resulted in disuse and rapid deterioration of road quality beyond maintainability. Due to their massive and cumulative environmental impacts, rural roads have become a major driver of deforestation and a threat to biodiversity in the mid-hills of Nepal.
Road projects have contributed to notable changes in land use as it consumes much forestland, shrubland and agricultural land. Incidents of landslide and erosion have increased with the increased construction of haphazard roads. Roads through forest areas may accelerate erosion and cause landslides as well. Forests are the important terrestrial ecosystem and any alteration can have severe environment impact. But forest area in Nepal is facing severe encroachment individually and institutionally. Every infrastructure related development project, including road projects, encroaches on forest land. Road construction might drive the wildlife away. It also causes the fragmentation of natural habitat and biodiversity corridors which hinders movement of wildlife and ultimately reduces the biodiversity. Haphazard road construction also impacts wetland ecosystem.
Debris generated from road construction may increase sediment loads in the rivers and ponds. Aquatic biodiversity may be affected by disposal of sedimentation in the water bodies. One of the notable examples of impact on wetland ecosystem is Phewa Lake of Pokhara. The lake constantly receives sediment which has resulted in the significant reduction of surface area from 5.8 sq km in 1981 to 4.4 sq km in 2001. Nepal has been losing 240 million tons of top fertile soil every year. Haphazard road construction is also responsible for this. So what should be done?
Instead of having more than one road to link the village, we can go for one environment-friendly road. This will also help to make the roads sustainable. Then instead of opening new tracks following years, the local bodies need to upgrade the same road.
Environmental assessments reports have the provision of generic compensatory plantations in the ratio of 1: 25 to offset the loss of trees. This provision should be strictly followed while constructing roads in the forest area. Environmental consideration should be incorporated while devising rural road projects. Protected areas, forests and environmentally sensitive spots should be spared to avoid huge biodiversity loss.
Often forestry sector is consulted at the end of the preliminary action. Environmental aspect should be the first consideration from now onwards. Local bodies and the concerned government ministries should work for this.
The author is assistant Forest Officer, District Forest Office Parbat ganesh_paudel009@yahoo.com
