Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 18:

While on one hand it has cut down the capital’s old trees, on the other the government is working on plans to plant new trees along the city’s roads.

“After felling the trees, we are now working hard to plant fresh trees to maintain the city’s greenery,” said Dr Bhaikaji Tiwari, project chief at Kathmandu Valley Town Development Committee (KVTDC). He said 80 trees have been planted along the Babarmahal road. KVTDC has been facing criticism for the recent felling of trees. “We regret the felling but taking possibility of casualty in consideration, we had to do it,” he said. According to the Cabinet decision of July 8, 2003, over 400 trees were felled along the roads at Maharajgunj, Tundikhel, Babar-mahal, and Araniko Highway. The felling of trees at Pulchowk is going on.

Tiwari said the environmentalists had not cared to attend any of the meetings called by the bodies concerned regarding the trees, but were now criticising the government when trees had already been felled.

Tiwari urged the environmentalists to work (when there is still time) to preserve other trees before the government takes another unpopular decision.