PANCHTHAR: The trafficking of Medicinal herbs has reduced after the installation of CCTV cameras in the Himalayan and upper hilly regions of Taplejung and Panchthar districts.

Social and non-governmental organisations active in the region installed CCTV cameras in the border areas of Sidingwa village of Taplejung and Yangwarak village of Panchthar six months ago with an aim to curb the smuggling of the herbs rampant in the region. The region is home for valuable medicinal herbs.

The installation of CCTV cameras, which has helped to reduce smuggling of medicinal herbs, was done as a part of inspecting the activities of endangered species Red Panda, under the Red Panda protection programme based on community, said Khadga Bahadur Bhandari who has been running Home Stay at Sidingwa.

According to locals, various valuable medicinal herbs such as sunapati, padamchal (Kencho), pakhanbed, maikopia, khokim, Bikhuma, Kudki, yarshagumba, panchaule among more than two hundred herbs are found in the region.

CCTV’s have been installed at five different places in the region, informed Taplejung Himali Samrachan Manch.