KATHMANDU: The President Chure-Terai Madhes Conservation Development Committee has spent around Rs 15 billion over the past decade since its establishment on June 16, 2014. However, questions are being raised about the outcomes and effectiveness of the expenditure.
According to the committee, the financial progress stands at 88.93 percent, while physical progress has reached 91.84 percent as of the fiscal year 2080-81 BS (July 16, 2024). Committee Chair Dr. Kiran Poudel stated that the funds have been used to extend multi-year crops in 1,459 locations, promote greenery in 5,230 hectares of land, and produce and distribute around 29.35 million saplings.
Additionally, the committee has constructed 412 kilometers of embankments, created 162 hectares of green belts, restored 139 wetland lakes, built 628 water harvesting ponds, and conserved 548 water sources.
Despite these achievements, Dr. Poudel acknowledged challenges in implementing the master plan.
“For not receiving adequate budget and the dearth of human resources, we have not been able to deliver our performance in line with the master plan,” he said.
The Chure region, which stretches across 37 districts and 325 local levels in seven provinces, has faced increasing environmental threats due to low topography, migration, climate risks, and fires.
The committee, established to promote sustainable natural resource management and conservation, has faced criticism and controversies, including allegations of corruption and political interference. Recently, two office-bearers were removed from their posts following a court order over qualification issues.
Concerns have been raised by stakeholders over the committee’s effectiveness. Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal (FECOFUN) President Thakur Bhandari criticized the lack of community involvement, calling for the dissolution of the committee.
“It has curtailed the rights of local indigenous peoples, so the committee should be dissolved. As long as it lasts, the Chure will continue to be destroyed,” he remarked.
However, the Founding Chair of the Chure Committee, Rameshwor Khanal, defended the committee’s efforts and called for better budget management and human resource allocation.
He also recommended formulating a dedicated Chure Act to strengthen the committee’s performance. Similarly, Chure expert Dr. Vijay Singh Dunwar stressed the importance of Chure conservation for the future of Terai Madhes and warned of desertification risks if erosion continues unchecked.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Auditor General’s 61st annual report revealed a lack of progress in several key areas. Despite targets set in the first five years of the master plan, there has been minimal progress in mapping forest areas, controlling forest encroachment, managing farmer groups, and implementing energy solutions.
The report suggested more strategic implementation to achieve the intended goals of the master plan.
Amid growing concerns, the government has decided to form a task force to collect suggestions for restructuring the committee, aiming to enhance its accountability and efficiency.
Comment