Ponds built in Myagdi forests for wild animals

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi, May 13: More than a dozen of ponds have been constructed in the community forests of Myagdi district to supply wild animals and birds with drinking water.

The Division Forest Office has constructed 16 ponds in two fiscal years to ease the drinking water problem for wild animals in the forests during the dry season. It is also believed that the construction of pounds will help in controlling forest fires.

Assistant Forest Officer Nar Bahadur Chhetri informed that ten ponds were constructed in the previous financial year and six in the current financial year in the community forests.

According to Chhetri, the constructed ponds are filled by bringing water from nearby water sources. The official said that ponds were built inside the forest in an effort to keep the animals there from coming to human settlements in search of water.

"We have moved forward with the construction of pounds inside the forest as more and more wild animals are coming to human settlements in search of water,” he said. Rs. 100,000 was provided to each community forest selected for pond construction.

This year, ponds have been constructed in Barahpak Community Forest of Beni Municipality-7, in Bhagwati Mahila Community Forest of Dhawalagiri-7, in Ghumaune Kokhe Community Forest of Annapurna-8, in Khumliya Community Forest of Mangala, in Daha Community Forest of Malika-6, and in Banduk Bhumebarah Community Forest of Raghuganga-1.

Manoj Ranabhat, Forest Officer of the Divisional Forest Office, said that it is believed that the construction of the pound would help in the conservation of biological diversity, in climate adaptation and stop wild animals from entering human settlements. He believes that water pounds inside the forests will also be useful in controlling forest fires.