Urlabari, Mar. 22: Minister for Tourism, Forestry, and Environment of the Koshi Province Government Ganesh Prasad Upreti has said that the forest is the backbone of Tarai’s development.

Speaking at the inauguration of the roadside tree-cutting programme of the East-West Highway, scheduled to be expanded with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank, at Kanepokhari-7 in Morang on Wednesday, he said that the Province government will support rapid progress without any hindrance.  He also assured that the provincial government stands ready to facilitate if any obstacle arise.

He also said that before deciding to cut down a tree, it is necessary to review the time it takes for that tree to grow. He added, “Cutting down trees for road construction is natural, but it is not appropriate to build roads for cutting down trees.”

According to Allauddin Ansari, Chief of Sub-Division Forest Office Kanepokhari, there are 5,556 trees in the 36.2 km area of the Morang section. A total of 15,000 cubic feet of wood will be cut in the project area, including branches, poles, and large trees.

Stating that the forest is only providing technical support, he said that the road department will do the work of felling, clearing and transportation.

Even the upgrading of the 120 km road from Kakarbhitta to Laukahi is planned, currently, only 97.770 km of road has been contracted. The contract has been awarded for two sections of the road. The 45-km stretch from Kakarbhitta to Damak will be managed by the Damak Office, while the section from Damak to Itahari West will be overseen by the Itahari Office.

Jagat Prajapati, Chief of the Kakarbhitta-Laukahi Road Project at the Itahari Office, said that the tree-cutting order letter was received from the Division Forest Office on March 18 and the feeling process started on March 19. 

The Damak West road constitutes part three of the project. Only Morang has received approval. Roadside trees in the Morang section should be removed within two months. 

Prajapati said that there is no possibility of delay as the construction company will handle all the work.

Minister for Tourism, Forestry, and Environment of the Koshi Province Government Ganesh Prasad Upreti speaking at the starting of the roadside tree-cutting programme of the East-West Highway, at Kanepokhari-7 in Morang, Wednesday.