CHITWAN: The Chitwan National Park (CNP) has released Rs 140.9 million for the buffer community development. It is nearly half the revenue collected by the CNP last year.
Information Officer at CNP, Gopal Ghimire, shared that CNP had collected Rs 291 million in revenue last year. Last year, only Rs 70 million was allocated for the community development. He further said the budget allocated for community development would be spent by 21 buffer consumers’ committees and a subcommittee. Chief conservation officer at CNP, Bed Kumar Dhakal, said the budget would be spent under five headings as community development, conservation program, capacity building, conservation education and administration works. Out of the total budget, community development and conservation program spend 30 percent each, he added.
Similarly, Rs 10 million has been allocated for purchasing the land in compensation to the land eroded by the rivers flowing through the CNP. The buffer consumers’ committee and subcommittee elect a chairman for the buffer community activities. The member of the elected committee divides the budget to all committees. Chief conservation officer is the member secretary of the elected committee.
The legal provisions put it that among the revenue generated by the park and conservation area, some 30 to 50 percent is spent on community development. The CNP too has been providing the amount to various committees also for minimizing the human-wildlife clash.
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