Kathmandu, January 8

The Ministry of Forest and Environment has prepared a plan to operate services in national park and conservation areas to promote eco-tourism in the Himalayan, mountain and Tarai regions.

The working procedure was drafted on the basis of National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act article 6, Bishwa Nath Oli, secretary at the ministry told the Sustainable Development and Good Governance committee of the National Assembly today.

He said, “We are drafting a working procedure on the possibilities of operating services in the national park and conservation areas.” According to him, the working procedure will open the door to operate services in the areas including in Rara National Park.

Stakeholders have been demanding the right to operate services, including hotel and other infrastructure in national parks and conservation areas across the country to promote eco-tourism.

There are 10 national parks, three wildlife reserves, six conservation areas and one hunting reserve in Nepal.

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has formulated a draft of standards to guide stone crusher plants and river related products and forwarded it to the Ministry of Forest and Environment and Ministry of physical infrastructure and Transportation for feedback said Secretary Oli.

The standards were formulated as inter-province council meeting’s decision. Those crusher plants and exploitation rivers related products have created environment pollution and people’s representatives have been raising this issue. “The new standards will guide those crusher plants and those working with river related products such as stone and sand” said Oli.

According to Oli, the seven joint secretaries will monitor in the seven provinces’ forest and environment sectors. Thirty per cent civil servants have been deployed in the provincial levels.