Hope Exists

A HEALTHY economy is the necessity of any country. Without the economy functioning in the way it should, due to various reasons, the general people have to suffer the most. In this context, the recent Maoist activities have dealt great blows to the very development infrastructures that are deemed essential for the nations' prosperity which means the people's welfare. The industrialists and business people are the most hurt because of the attacks on their installations and also as a result of the unqualified bandhs that are being called at regular intervals. It is no wonder that the economy of the country as a whole has suffered to a great extent. Security is a main problem and the present government has made commitments to improve it. It may be a difficult task but not impossible to accomplish. The new government formed just over a month ago seems to have a set of plans to meet the goals. The objectives are to maintain law and order and hold the elections at the earliest possible date. There is no doubt that these can be achieved if the right atmosphere can be created with the support of the recognised political parties. The political parties must not shy away from their responsibilities to see the country revive. Petty interests do no good for the country in particular.

National Planning Commission (NPC) has a great burden to shoulder in seeing that the national level programmes are implemented in the right and efficient manner. In this connection, NPC Vice-Chairman Dr. Shankar Sharma, speaking at an interaction programme on "Economic Reform Programme and Future Strategies", the other day, stressed on the fact that works were in progress to improve the efficiency of service delivery in the basic needs sector such as health and education. This may be a priority issue and deserves praise for the commitment made. The reference to the Tenth Plan also merits attention as that will show where the country will be heading for. A main point referred to at the interaction programme was that of the lack of regular evaluation of the implemented programmes. The Plan, according to NPC Vice-Chairman, revolves around minimising public expenditures, prioritising the public sector and improving the service delivery mechanism. They are required to improve the overall economy of the country. It is not just plans and programmes that give results but the implementation must be the major focus. In this direction, optimism has started prevailing.

Save The Wetland

WITH a view to discuss the implementation of sustainable development policies related to the preservation and utilisation of wetland, a day-long interaction programme was organised at Inarwa by the Sunsari DDC. The interaction programme, participated in by representatives of many concerned agencies and organisations, focused on the subject of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reservation and the wetland situation in the area. That Sunsari district is better known as the natural habitat of the arna (wild water buffalo) among wildlife experts and lovers from home and abroad hardly needs any mention here. About 27 years ago, the concerned wildlife protection authorities delineated off about 175 sq. kms of the district as the sole preserve of these wild water buffaloes. The area of the reserve extends to the north of the about one kilometer long Koshi Barrage that spans the mighty Sapta Koshi River and encompasses a vast expanse of water as well as marshes, lagoons, grasslands and mudflats. All this, apart from creating a sprawling wetland for these wild water buffaloes to forage and proliferate, has also led to the creation of one of the best and finest bird watching sanctuaries in Asia. In addition to these wild buffaloes and hundreds of species of birds, the vast wetland is also home to, among others, the rare Gangatic dolphins, marsh muggers, and the endangered gharial crocodiles.

However, of late, this sylvan wildlife sanctuary as well as the wild water buffaloes living within its area are increasingly coming under pressure from humans. Not only are the settlers living near the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve said to be encroaching upon the reserve's unique wetlands to convert them into farmlands but, worse still, endangering the continued survival of the very animals-herein, the arnas-that the concerned authorities, to preserve them for posterity, had created the reserve. Settlers are known to let loose their domesticated water buffaloes near or within the reserve's protected premises. This, as per wildlife experts, could increase the chances of these wild buffaloes either succumbing to animal-related diseases contracted from their domesticated cousins or to the dilution of their genetic purity by mating with their less wild cousins. As such, if these arnas are to be bequeathed to posterity, then the concerned authorities need to strictly enforce the existing rules and regulations specifically enacted to protect these endangered wild water buffaloes.