Itahari, August 21 :

Locals have opposed the decision made by the Koshi Tappu Wild Life Reserve to allow a group of 25 persons to fish at the reserve at a time. The reserve had recently informed Haripur Shreepur Users’ Committee about the decision. The Buffer Zone Area Management Council should have decided the matter, they said. They added that official ID cards should have been distributed to the users.

Facilitator of the Community Development Organisation Arjun Thapaliya said the authority to give give permission for fishing at the reserve should have been given to users’ committees.

Ranger Pashupati Adhikari said the locals were opposing the move because of prodding by some organisations.