HETAUDA: Local residents of Ramauli and Pratapur areas, who have long been suffering from soil erosion and constant attacks of wild animals, are going to be resettled in nearby areas after clearing forests.

As per the cabinet decision of July 23, a total of Rs 3.5 million have been allocated for the settlement of the 375 households of Ward No 5 and 6 of Manahari VDC. The sum, however, will be generated after selling the timber from the nearby forests.

According to the plan, altogether 7,903 trees will be felled and about 292,000 cubic feet timber will be sold off after clearing the jungle located at Godamchaur. The government is also planning to clear the forest after establishing four blocks in Manahari area.

Tulasiram Sharma, warden, Parsa Wildlife Conservation Area, confirmed the government plan to chop down the trees.

According to him, a meeting recently held in coordination of Regional Forest Directorate took the decision to this effect. The responsibility of felling the trees and selling the timber has been given to the Timber Corporation.

The going-to-be resettled local residents, who are living amid impending danger of floods and wild animals, expressed happiness as their worries would be over soon. The locals, however had been demanding the same for more than three decades.

Meanwhile, Survey Office Makawanpur has started the work for distributing the lands among the locals. People belonging to Rai, Majhi, Bote, Chepang, Brahmin and Chhetri have been residing in the areas.