NIJGADH: Over 27,000 trees have been cut so far for Nijgadh-Bara Fast Track Project implementation and the remaining 11,000 trees will be cut down during the tunnel construction.

The project is being implemented by Nepal Army (NA).

According to Fast Track Project Implementation Division Chief and Lieutenant Colonel Bishwa Bandhu Pahadi, trees along the track were needed to be removed for implementation of the 77-kilometre project.

The division obtained permission from the Forest Ministry to cut down trees with the condition to remain within the periphery of 50 metres of the track in hilly areas and 100 metres in the Tarai.

To meet the environmental standard, 25 trees should be planted for every tree cut down in the process and NA is producing approximately 150,000 nursery plants in Nijgadh and Rajdurbar.

Tree plantation has also begun in the areas where trees were cut down. 5,000 trees at several places of Kohalbi Municipality have already been planted, NA said.