DAMAULI, SEPTEMBER 9

Ponds have been constructed in 17 community forests of Tanahun with grant assistance of Tanahun Division Forest Office.

Ponds were constructed in the community forests last fiscal year in a bid to preserve wildlife. Chief of Division Forest Office, Komal Raj Kafle, said 12 ponds were built in Bhanu Municipality, two in Myagde Rural Municipality and one each in Devghat, Rishing, and Bandipur rural municipalities. He said ponds were constructed in the forests to manage the human-wildlife conflict. The most number of ponds were built in Bhanu Municipality taking into account frequent incidents of bear rampage.

The forest office has placed a pond protection campaign after wildlife started rampaging in the human settlement in search of water.

'The threat of leopard attack in Tanahun has increased in the past couple of years because as water sources dry up in forests, the jungle cat has started entering nearby human settlements searching for water,' he said, adding, many people had lost their lives in leopard attacks.

Office sources said the campaign would be crucial for mitigating human-wildlife conflict. The office has provided a grant assistance of Rs 1.48 million for the construction of ponds in 17 community forests. As per official data, 11 community forests were provided Rs 100,000 each, Rs 50,000 each was given to five community forests and Rs 130,000 to a community forest.

Ponds have been constructed in Deurali, Kalika, Sano Deurali, Marsyangdi, Bhimsen Thumki, Majuwa Okhle, Lohipakha, Ratmate, Pattharedhunga, Bhanubhakta, Belthumki, Tilahar, Jhankrithumka, Indrachek, Palethumki of Devghat, Barse Garha Thakuridanda of Bandipur, Barahi, and Jyantang community forest of Myagde.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 10 2021, of The Himalayan Times.