Media persons, and representatives of education sector have expressed commitment to strive for protection of environment.
They made such commitment during an interaction on Seti Watershed Area organized at Damaula by Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) with support from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the second week of April.
NEFEJ President Arjun Dhakal said the tendency to destroy environment on the pretext of development and the indifference to protect the existing natural sources have been badly affecting humankind.
“If the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Chief is asked what is the major issue of concerns, his reply will be the air pollution of Kathmandu,” said Dhakal. “Every citizen will raise question about Kathmandu’s pollution, polluted drinking water, air. This makes given a clear picture clear that we are connected to environment on every issue.”
Executive Director of NEFEJ Subodh Gautam said there has been conflicts between the local bodies and community forest consumers’ groups in recent times. He said the program was organized with an objective to discuss the ways to identify and resolve such conflicts, and make the students aware about these issues.
Editor of Nagarik daily newspaper Gunraj Luintel called on the journalists to become fully alert and write news about environmental issues without any reservations.
“In the midst of big political news, smaller issues of environment are no less important for us,” said Editor Luintel, “If the journalists look with their eyes wide open, they can find many news in our surroundings.” He said if the students move ahead by becoming aware about the environmental issues, many issues will come out and that will spread awareness.
Forest Officer at Tanahun District Forest, Ambika Prasad Poudel, noted that nobody has paid attention to undertaking development works without destroying the nature.
“We only open track and use bull-dozer and the road will be washed away during rainy season,” he said, “Then the land where paddy is planted would be rendered unfit for even lemon.”
Officer Poudel elucidated on the growing threat of drying up water sources, irrigation canals, sudden flooding of rivers during rainy season, and parched river beds during winter season.
The participants expressed concerns over environmental questions regarding the Seti Watershed Area. Coordinator of Tanahun District Coordination Committee Shanti Raman Wagle said the natural regions have been encroached across the country.
“Though the state has started using the natural resources to collect revenue, no study has not been conducted on its impact,” he said. He stressed that the state should be cautious about the misuse of natural resources and means.
In the same manner, Federation of Community Forestry Users Chairman Keshav Neupan said extensive development works are being carried out in Tanahun district without taking regard of the environmental impact. He said there has been immense deforestation for development in the district.
Federation of Nepali Journalists Tanahun chapter President Omkar Acharya said such programs will be helpful in making the general readers aware about the environmental impact, forest conservation, and environment conservation and its importance.
Teachers and students present at the program shared their experiences and put forth questions. Satyabati Secondary School teacher Ganesh Bhattarai said the natural heritage isn’t anyone’s private property. “We use the natural heritage and should preserve it for future generation,” he said. Atithi Bhandari, a student of Satyabati school, opined that only a clean behavior will ensure clean environment.
