SIRAHA: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has called for collaboration among the federal, provincial, and local governments, along with community involvement, for the effective conservation of the Chure region.

Speaking at a tree plantation event marking the 10th Chure Conservation Day, PM Dahal highlighted the critical role of Chure conservation in sustaining the livelihoods of the people in the Tarai-Madhesh region.

PM Dahal underscored the importance of implementing the 20-year Chure Tarai-Madhesh Conservation and Management Master Plan, first endorsed in 2074 BS and later amended.

He noted the necessity of enacting a dedicated law for Chure conservation, stating that the government is actively working towards this goal.

The Prime Minister praised the afforestation initiatives led by the Rastrapati Chure Tarai-Madhesh Conservation Development Committee, which have successfully planted various species across 10,000 hectares of open and abandoned land.

He acknowledged the Committee’s efforts in promoting greenery and maintaining ecosystem balance, urging all stakeholders, especially local governments, to prioritize the protection of newly planted trees.

Highlighting the geo-biological and geological sensitivity of the Chure hills, which span 37 districts from Ilam in the east to Kanchanpur in the west, PM Dahal emphasized the region’s rich biodiversity and its role as a habitat and migration route for rare wildlife.

He pointed out that the Chure hills are a vital water source for the Tarai-Madhesh and that the natural resources in the Chure area are essential for the people living in the lowland region.

PM Dahal raised concerns about the environmental degradation caused by human activities, such as the collection and excavation of stones, gravel, and sand, which have severely impacted the integrity of the river systems.

He stressed that the Chure region faces increasing challenges due to population growth, unorganized settlements, deforestation, forest fires, uncontrolled cattle grazing, and unsystematic infrastructure development.

“The exploitation of Chure resources has led to significant environmental crises,” PM Dahal stated. “To protect the region, it is crucial to conduct environmental studies before any collection or excavation activities.”

He reiterated the importance of a clean environment for the safety of human life and called for concerted efforts to save the people of Tarai-Madhesh from natural disasters.

PM Dahal urged the three levels of government and all state agencies to adopt systematic development practices that consider the rights of future generations to live in harmony with nature.

RSS