CHITWAN, JULY 24

Minister of Forests and Environment Pradeep Yadav has said the ministry would not be a barrier when it comes to the development of the country.

Development projects that have been halted allegedly due to the ministry would resume, he assured while addressing a programme related to the development of Bharatpur Metropolitan City organised here today.

Referring to many projects that have been halted due to forest-related problems within the metropolis, the minister assured the advancement of the projects. 'We are at work to resolve the problems by carrying out field inspection. Development work will be carried out by seeking alternatives.'

Commenting on the Bharatpur-Madi Postal Highway, the minister said the process of the ministry's decision regarding road related problems had reached the final stage.

Similarly, a decision on resolving issues in the distribution of land ownership certificates would be taken soon, he said, adding that the ministry would cooperate with the metropolis in its mission to make Bharatpur the country's model city in five years.

Metropolis Mayor Renu Dahal urged the minister to help resolve difficulties in the distribution of land to landless squatters and in the management of transport office and projects such as the ring road, an embankment in the Narayani River, landfill site, auto land construction area and a bridge linking Golaghat-Nawalparasi.

Similarly, the development of urban forestry as an international park has been halted due to forest-related problems and the matter should be resolved, she demanded.

Forest Secretary Pem Narayan Kandel assured that the ministry was ready to take the matter to the Council of Ministers and the Parliament if the need arose.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 25, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.