Bhaluwa wetland beautification left in limbo

By Hari Prasad Koirala,Morang, Oct. 6: The Bhaluwa wetland, once overflowing with water, has now been occupied by water lilies. However, the beautification project for this wetland has come to a standstill for the past four years due to internal conflicts within the community forest committees, resulting in the wetland area being densely populated with water lilies.

Tara Bahadur Kafle, former Chairman of Khanepokhari Rural Municipality, had laid the foundation stone for the beautification of the wetland in Kanepokhari-7, six years ago. Unfortunately, the beautification project, which had initially commenced after the foundation stone was laid, got halted by the Forest Sub-Division Office.

As the construction company was actively engaged in its work, the division office in the area requested permission to operate within the forest area. To operate within the community forest area, adherence to a legal protocol is essential. Millions of rupees have already been spent to beautify the wetlands within the conservation area of the ‘Rural Improvement Community Forest’.

The new action plan has not been formulated because the community forest has been unable to arrange a general convention for a considerable period. Ram Lakhan Thakur, Information Officer of the Divisional Forest Office in Morang, explained that the internal conflicts within the community forest have hindered the formulation of a new action plan. He further stated, “As the previous action plan has already expired, the approval of a new one has not been granted, resulting in the work being stalled.”

It has been over 10 years since the initiative to beautify the wetland began with the aim of transforming it into a model tourist destination. Unfortunately, due to a lack of coordination between government agencies and the community forest, the project remains incomplete, he added.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared at an expense of Rs. 450,000 during the term of former rural municipality mayor, Tara Bahadur Kafle. The DPR outlined plans for various amenities including a treehouse, forest dining cottage, welcome gate, culvert, restroom, guardroom, toilet, bridge in the middle of the pond, assembly hall, guest house, and the establishment of a small zoo to support wildlife conservation.

Former Tourism Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal allocated the budget for this project. Kafle mentioned that the Tourism Ministry had committed Rs. 35 million, and the rural municipality was to contribute Rs. 1.5 million to the project, which has an estimated total cost of Rs. 50 million.

However, the contract for the project was awarded to Sky SAS Mutual JB for Rs. 36.5 million. It was agreed that the contractor would complete the work within two years and then hand it over to the local government. However, even after four years, the project remains incomplete. Rajmati Ingnam, Chairperson of the rural municipality, mentioned that the work is currently halted because the wetland is located within a forest area. The work will resume after the action plan receives approval.

The wetland and watershed area, which is about three kilometres south of the Kanepokhari intersection of the East-West Highway, is spread over 14 hectares of land. In the fiscal year 2012/2013, Hari Prasad Paudel, former Chairman of Community Forest, formed the Bhaluwa Wetland Conservation Committee and started beautification work.

Former President of the committee Naveen Rai also stated that Rs. 800,000 was spent on beautification during his tenure. Rai also mentioned that during his presidency, he allocated Rs. 250,000 for the same purpose.

The largest community forest in the Terai, spanning over 815 hectares, is in the final stages of resolving internal disputes within the rural improvement community forest user group. The community forest has been divided into three parts, and the general conventions of two of them have already been completed.