Nawalpur, January 12
Stakeholders have laid emphasis on the need to conserve and restore forest wetlands.
At the fourth Narayani Water Dialogue and Interaction organised at Gaindakot of Nawalparasi (Bardaghat-Susta East), stakeholders stressed the need to preserve wetland in the forest area and arrange for a system of water recharge.
On the occasion, Mayor of Gaindakot Municipality Madan Bhakta Adhikari opined that it was necessary to conserve wetland area to protect bio-diversity. "The role of bio-diversity is significant to keep the environment clean," he said, adding, "The wetlands and natural water bodies in our surroundings should be preserved for the same."
Saying different organisations along with the municipality have been supporting the Narayani River Clean-up Campaign, Mayor Adhikari stressed the need to ensure participation of communities along with the local government in the conservation sector.
Similarly, Chairperson of Ward No 5 of Gaindakot Municipality Ratna Prasad Sapkota shared that restoration of wetland area and protection of the Narayani River was the need of the hour. He said a group comprising experts had been carrying out activities for management of garbage produced in the city. "Along with the collective efforts and the action plan to conserve the Narayani riverside areas and restore wetlands around, various series of interactions and dialogues on water with the involvement of local people and conservationists has taken place," said Homnath Subedi, chairperson of the wetland area restoration and Narayani riverside collective efforts and action plan project.
"Work is under way to conserve and protect the wetlands in collaboration with various local forests," said Dinesh KC of the Sub-divisional Forest Office, Gaindakot.
Similarly, project coordinator Dinesh Bastakoti stressed the need for all to join hands for conservation of wetlands. On the occasion, he presented a report related to work to be expedited for restoration of wetlands and protection of riverside areas and its benefits.
Stating that wetlands around the Nawalpur area were drying up, resulting in the disappearance of dependent water birds, Bastakoti underscored the need to draw the attention of the respective parks and local forest offices for their protection. "It is increasingly becoming difficult to spot water birds for some years. Only the protection of endangered water birds and creatures dependent on wetlands will protect human existence."
"Apart from non-governmental organisations, the state and local communities should play an important role in this regard," he said.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 13, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
