LAMJUNG: The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) has decided to prohibit people not belonging to Manang district from collecting any kind of medicinal herbs including Yarsagumba in the district with effect from this year.

People from various districts including Lamjung, Gorkha, Dhading and Tanahun used to go Manang to collect medicinal herbs including Yarsagumba and Banlashun.

According to Santosh Serchan, office chief, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Manang, they came up with such a decision following a spate of disputes among the people of different districts in the past.

Manang denizens had murdered seven persons of Gorkha district who had reached there for collecting Yarsagumba last year.

Meanwhile, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project today organised an interaction programme to discuss on the management and export of herbal medicine.

Leaders of different political parties, CDO Madhav Prasad Dhungana, LDO Krishna Prasad Chital, among others participated in the programme.

The participants opined that smuggling of herbal medicines should be stopped and trade of such medicines should be managed properly.