By Chandra Pandak, Taplejung, Oct. 12: The national forest in the Pathibhara area, a famous pilgrimage site in Taplejung, has been facing encroachment, with private houses and sheds, public structures and various development projects contributing to the loss of forest land.
Although exact figures are not available, a large area of forest land in Pathibhara has been encroached upon. According to locals, encroachment on national forest and government land began more than three decades ago and continues to this day.
Recently, encroachment has been reported in Kaflepati, Baludanda and Guranse, among other locations in the area.
The affected sites lie along the trekking route to Pathibhara Temple in Phurumbu, Ward No. 10, and Phawakhola, Ward No. 11, of Phungling Municipality.
The encroached areas fall within Mayampatal Community Forest and Pathibhara Simbu Community Forest. Houses and sheds are being built by occupying forest and public land along the trail.
Land on both sides of the route, from Kaflepati to the area below Mathillo Phedi, is being occupied. In some places, houses and sheds have already been built, while elsewhere the land is being levelled, stone walls are being erected, and wooden beams and poles are being installed in preparation for construction. Wooden stakes and ropes have also been used to mark plots for proposed structures at numerous locations.
Some structures have already been built on encroached forest land in Kaflepati. In the lower and upper sections of Baludanda, land is being levelled and plots marked for further construction. Trees and vegetation, including rhododendron, angeli (wild Himalayan raspberry), kharane and utish (alder plant), have been cleared to make way for the structures.
Armed Police Inspector Biraj Katuwal, chief of the Armed Police Force Nepal’s security base at Kaflepati, said attempts had been made to encroach on forest land from Mathillo Phedi down to Kaflepati.
During monitoring and inspection after reports of encroachment emerged, officials found that land had been levelled and marked for the construction of 160 structures along the route, Katuwal said. Of these, 100 plots were being prepared on the Phurumbu side and 60 on the Phawakhola side.
Sri Narayan Yadav, chief of the Division Forest Office, Taplejung, said the office had written to the Pathibhara Sub-Division Forest Office and the concerned community forests, directing them to stop the activities immediately.
The office has instructed the authorities to halt construction of houses and sheds on encroached forest land and remove any structures already built, Yadav said.
He added that the concerned parties had been warned of legal action if the encroachment continued. Activities reportedly stopped on Friday following the office’s warning.
Chief District Officer Umesh Kumar Dahal said he had coordinated with the Division Forest Office to stop the activities and remove structures after receiving reports of encroachment. A meeting of the district security committee had also been held, and a decision was taken to ensure adequate security arrangements, he said.
Suraj Ojha, president of the Federation of Community Forestry User’s Nepal, Taplejung, said the continued encroachment on forest land was unfortunate.
He noted that the Forest Act prohibits such encroachment and provides for the removal of illegally built structures, but the Pathibhara area had been affected for years. He said the Division Forest Office and other concerned agencies should take steps to prevent further encroachment.
Settlements have been established on encroached forest land in Mathillo Phedi, Guranse, Baludanda, Kaflepati, Terse, Sewaro Chowk and Deurali. Around 44 houses and sheds had already been built on national forest and public land in these areas, with businesses including hotels operating there.
Forest land has also been encroached upon and cleared during the implementation of projects such as rural electrification, drinking water schemes and the Pathibhara cable car project. The construction of rest houses, resting places, traditional shelters and parks has also contributed to encroachment.
Those working in conservation say the continued encroachment is degrading forests and seriously affecting the local ecology and environment.
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