JANAKPURDHAM, JULY 9

Former president Ram Baran Yadav has expressed worry over the government not-paying attention to the conservation of Chure area.

At the 'Madhes discourse' organised here today, the former president said desertification of the entire Tarai/Mades was inevitable due to unchecked exploitation of Chure region.

'The Tarai region used to get adequate rainfall resulting in good harvest of paddy, maize and wheat,' he reminded, adding that water scarcity was a serious problem now in the region.

He further said time had come to import products into the Tarai, which has been caused by the unchecked exploitation of Chure area. Deforestation in Chure area is equally a serious concern.

Yadav also reminded of the warning of experts that if the exploitation of Chure region continued unchecked, the entire Tarai-Madhes would turn into a desert in the next 30 years. Therefore, collective efforts were imperative to prevent it, he underscored.

He further recalled that the President Chure Conservation Programme was launched when he was the president.

The thriving jungle of concrete that is replacing trees is alarming in this region.

On a different note, the former head of state expressed happiness that all sides were now accepting the constitution. He wished the existing constitution would last for long.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 10, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.