Kathmandu, September 1:

The Water Resources and Environment Conservation Trust (WRECT)-Nepal is working on a park in memory of 24 outstanding personalities, who died in a helicopter crash in Ghunsa on September 23, 2006. The WRECT-Nepal aims to erect life-size statues of the dead in the park.

Laying the foundation stone for the memorial park, to be built in 15 ropanis of land at Kwake Chaur in Ramkot VDC of Kathmandu, Speaker Subas Nembang said the construction of the memorial park is the best way to respect those who devoted their life for nature conservation and died for it. “The park will inspire the new generation to conserve nature,” he said.

Tirtha Raj Sharma, secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, stressed the need to conserve forests and materialise the dream of the dead. The government should think of conserving forests, he said.

According to WRECT estimates, it will take Rs 30 million to build the park. Bhabiswar Gurung, patron of the WRECT, said donor agencies have pledged support for the project. “The government has also pledged financial support.”

Minister of State for Forests and Soil Conservation Gopal Rai, scholar Dr Harka Gurung and others involved in nature and wildlife conservation had lost their lives in a chopper crash in Ghunsa, Taplejung, last year.