This is with reference to the article “Extraneous Outer Ring Road” (THT, May 5, Page 14). Supporting the article, I like to add some points here.

Firstly, the Outer Ring Road will destroy the huge amount of remaining agricultural land and open spaces of the Kathmandu Valley. This is not suitable for an agricultural country like Nepal where a majority of people still depend on agriculture.

Secondly, the proposed Outer Ring Road is sure to bring more population into the already heavily populated Valley, which will create more shortage of basic amenities such as drinking water and electricity. This will also create drainage problem.

More vehicles will be plying the roads, which will mean the local environment will become more polluted. Thirdly, the proposed routes of the Outer Ring Road already have road links to the place such as Lubhu, Khokana, Bungamati, Chobhar, Tokha etc. So, why do we need an additional road to connect these areas through the costly ring road, destroying greenery and environment of the Valley? In fact, present road condition in these localities have to be improved.

Finally, the decision to construct the Outer Ring Road had been taken way back before the country adopted federalism in which political powers are delegated to other parts of the country through budgetary allocation to the provinces and local level units.

Dipak Tuladhar, Durbar Marg

Poaching

It is shocking to review international reports about the mass murder and butchering of the wild Asiatic elephant herds in Myanmar reaching epic proportions. The disaster has been reaching monumental heights due to the close proximity of the Sino-Myanmar international porous border which does not have adequate surveillance or it is not well guarded and not monitored stringently.

Furthermore, Myanmar has just started its journey towards democracy after several decades of bloody conflicts and destructive civil wars post-independence. Under these circumstances, the socio-economic condition of vast parts of the nation is still poorly organised and will take decades before ordinary citizens can start enjoying the benefits of economic stability.

Currently political instability, abject poverty, lack of infrastructure, education and social healthcare and poor employment opportunities are pushing a vulnerable section of the society located in remote, rural border areas and remote hinterlands towards poaching and wildlife trafficking as their only source of income. It is a socio-economic challenge for that nation.

Why should Nepal be alarmed? There could be a spillover effect across the border and the Indian elephants could be targeted soon unless serious preventive measures are taken right now.

Saikat Kumar Basu, Canada