KATHMANDU: With endorsement of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), authorities now can initiate the process to cut down 2.4 trees for the proposed Nigadh International Airport in Bara district but plan to plant 60 million saplings is in dilemma after authorities could not identify the proper place for plantation.
The EIA approved by Ministry of Forest and Environment 10 days ago mentioned that the saplings will be planted at the location fixed by the Bara District Forest Office. But, the deadline to select the place is not mentioned in the report. The report has been approved just for moving the process to fell trees.
Gyanendra Mishra, Forest Officer of Bara, said that search of land is still pending as the marking of trees is going on to cut down them. “We need to plant saplings in a large scale along river banks, mismanaged forests, and other vacant places,” he said. “We will plant saplings in neighboring district if places are unavailable in Bara.”
According to EIA report, 2.45 million trees of 7,969.37 hectares out of total 8,045.79 hectares of land will be cut down. In return, a total of 61.27 million saplings will be planted to compensate the loss of forest. For the purpose, a total of 38,294 hectares of land is required, said the report.
The requirement is less of 8,888 hectares of land out of total forestland in Bara district. As per the fiver-year plan of Bara, 47,182 hectares of land exists and 1,194 hectares out of it is encroached. The forest area is covered by the Parsa National Park.
The EIA report mentions that a sapling is planted at a distance of 1.25 meters. So, only 9,573 hectares of land is required for the plantation. Over 6,500 saplings will be planted at a hectare of land, which will be dense.
