NATIONAL 4 - (Spotlight Weekly)

‘We Don't Want To Intervene In Hills’

— Mohammad Aftab Alam

MOHAMMAD AFTAB ALAM, Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation, is one of the young ministers in the present cabinet. Alam represents constituency no 4 of Rautahat district. Although this is his second innings in the House of Representatives, a science graduate Alam was assistant minister of forest during the Congress-RPP coalition. Alam spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on different issues related to the controversy over the recent government decision of allowing district forest offices more authority in managing community forests. Excerpts:

What is the national forest policy of the present government?

Our national forest policy is based on protection, preservation and real utilization of forest products. The ministry encourages the local community in the areas of forest preservation.

After the restoration of democracy, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation has promoted community forestry in the hills and terai. Is not the recent decision regarding community forestry contradictory to the national forest policy?

The policy decision of the ministry is not against the community forestry. We don't have any complaints on the community forestry in hilly regions as it has a very positive contribution in preserving the forest there. After receiving many complaints regarding the management of community forest in terai and Chure region, we have just modified our concept of community forestry in those areas. Even in terai region, our aim is not to ignore the community participation. What we want is our role at the time of misuse of forest products.

Do you mean the users groups in terai have been misusing the forest?

Yes, we have received many complaints from the community about the misuse of the forest by handful of persons in the community. Our aim is to preserve forest. We handed over the forest to the users group in terai hoping that they will use the forest products to fulfill their own necessities. Instead of doing so, many users groups in terai have resorted to commercial logging of forest. To prevent that, government took the decision to intervene.

Do you have any particular examples of such misuse?

Yes, in Jhapa, Rupandehi and Banke districts users groups are selling the forest products.

Then, why are you punishing all the user groups?

We are not punishing anyone but protecting the interest of user groups. At the cost of few groups, we can't allow plundering of national forests. There needs to be certain restrictions on users group in terai. We want to follow carrot and stick policy in terai.

The user groups are accusing that the government is trying to intervene in their affairs to misuse the forest resources. How do you look at it?

If you see the policy announcement, you can understand. As the users group are generating large number of resources, there needs to be a rational distribution system. The government is now asking for 40 percent of resources from the community to distribute 25 percent to the VDCs close to the areas.

You are saying that users groups will be allowed to take preservation activities. What do you mean?

We are not dismantling the community forest from terai and inner terai including Chure but what we want is effective preservation through the participation of the government. In terai region, most of the users groups are using the natural forest. We are also forced to intervene as the traditional users groups of further southern parts are prevented to use it and the forest is monopolized by a certain community of the north. There is nothing to be suspicious about it.

How do you assure the scared users group in hills that the government will not intervene in their forest?

We have already made it clear that we don't want to intervene in the community forest of hills as our experiences have already shown that forest cannot be protected without active support of users group. Even in terai, the government has agreed to share revenue with the users group and users groups still have a share of 60 percent of total revenue as well as other products like fuelwood and fodder.

Don't you think this decision discourages the local users group?

How does it discourage them since consumers are still given access to forest resources and lion's share of revenue. The new decision will definitely help strengthen relations between user groups and forest officials. If we involve both parties, one cannot cut the trees for its benefit. The forests in terai areas are economically valuable and have easy access to the market. In this context, there needs to be integrated approach to protect forest in terai. The forest officials should be authorized to take necessary action against those user groups who violate the rules.

How do you distribute forest products equitably?

We now have forty percent of resources that can be funneled to the traditional users groups of the south.

What prompted you to intervene in the community forestry in terai region?

Look, we have dense forests in terai and inner terai including the Chure range. Our experiences have shown that some individuals are exploiting the forest in the name of user groups. There must be check and balance. As economic value of Sal trees are very high in terai, users group were even found cutting young trees for economic benefits. I don't understand why they need money? We have handed over the national forests not for cutting down the trees and for economic benefits of the community. We provide national forest to community hoping they will preserve and protect them. We have intervened due to the misuse of forest area by users group. District Forest Officers now have the power to enter into the area of community forest.

Your decision is said to have been taken haphazardly. Did you do any home-work before taking the decision?

Yes, we did adequate homework before announcing the decision. There must be the share of the government on the community forests of terai.

How about the smuggling of forest products in terai region?

I have already issued a notice asking district forest officers not to cut new trees. Incidents of smuggling have decreased.

You are talking about the conservation and preservation of forest products. What is your reaction about the bridge built in the Rapti river of Royal Chitawan National park?

I am aware about the bridge and division of Royal Chitawan National Park. I am discussing the issue with the officials. We are doing homework on how to preserve the wild-life.

Do you have any new plans to preserve forest?

Yes, I have certain plans.

Some non-governmental organizations accuse that forest officials always mislead ministers while formulating the national forest policy. Do you agree?

It depends on individuals. I do what I think is right. On the issue of community forestry, I myself am responsible for taking the decision.

‘Backwardness Of The Region Will Come To End Now’

— Tek Bahadur Chokhyal

TEK BAHADUR CHOKHYAL, whip of Nepali Congress, is a lawyer by profession. Chokhyal has been elected from constituency of Kailali district to the House of Representatives twice. Chokhyal spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues related to the development of far-western region. Excerpts:

Now after the construction of bridges in Karnali river, your region has been linked with the rest of the kingdom. How do you feel about it?

It is a really joyful experience for me. I recall the days when I had to face many hardships and difficulties when traveling to Kathmandu from my home. It used to take us more than a week to reach Kathmandu valley from Doti twenty years ago. I had to go to Lucknow in India and then re-enter Nepal via Birgunj. Now that kind of long journey has become the thing of the past. It now takes 14 hours to reach Kailali from Kathmandu. We have ten-night buses plying in the route to Mahendranagar alone. You can also find night-bus services to Achham, Doti, Baitadi and Dadeldhura districts of the region. Kathmandu is no more a strange place for the people of far-western region.

After the completion of east-west high way, what economic benefits will far-western region enjoy?

Far western region is now linked with the rest of the country. I can now claim that I am really a Nepali citizen. Earlier, we had to go to India to visit other parts of Nepal. The completion of the bridges made it possible for us to come to the capital within 12 hours. Now the regional disparity will end. Backwardness of far western region will come to end now. The electricity and road links together will help the far-western region. I would like to thank Danish government on behalf of people of far western region for assisting in the rural electrification. I feel that the economic benefits for the far western region will be immense. The twenty-two bridges constructed with cooperation of India will definitely have positive impacts. The far-western region now can compete with eastern regions of the country.

As a gate-way to the hilly parts of the far-western region, how do you see the future of Kailali district?

Kailali district has many potentials as it is going to be the economic hub for the hills of far-western region. It is already linked with Doti, Dadeldhura, Achham and Baitadi. The construction of road to Darchula is going on. Such road links with different parts of the country will definitely accelerate economic activities of the district.

As you said, two districts Kanchanpur and Kailali are linked with the rest of Nepal. What is the situation of north-south roads in the far western region?

North-South road is very important for the development of far western region as it will link remote northern parts to southern plain. Many roads are nearing completion. Within a few years, most of the district headquarters will have direct link to the rest of the country by road.

What are the challenges of the far western region?

There are two areas in far-western region which include nine districts. Except two plain districts, all seven are remote and backward. In hill areas, poverty is rampant and the number of literate population is very low compared to eastern parts of the country. The health facilities are virtually non-existent. One of the major challenges is to make the large number of population literate. If we are able to provide education to all, most of the problems in the region could be sorted out.

What is the government doing in this direction?

After our party came to power, the government took many steps to improve the situation.

What are the immediate potentials of far-western region?

Far-western region has all types of prospect including hydro-power, agriculture and tourism. We have national parks like Khaptad and Royal Shukla Reserves. Mahakali project, West-Seti Hydro-power project will help to generate the resources and provide employment for the local people. We want the project works of West-Seti and Mahakali to start soon.

What is happening on the third phase of Mahakali Irrigation Project?

The project is very important to increase the agriculture production in Kailali and Kanchanpur district. It is delayed due to some misunderstanding between donors and government. We have already discussed the issue with the officials of Ministry of Water Resources.

What is required to kick-off economic activities in the region?

You know that far-western region is one of the most backward regions in terms of economic development. Over the ten years period of time, the development in the region has been gradually taking off. It was neglected in terms of economic and industrial development. Even today, large number of people from far-western region are flocking to India in search of employment. The link offered by the east-west high way may change this pattern. If we grow fruits and vegetables, we can supply it to any part of the country.

How supportive are the local bodies in your efforts?

They are very supportive to our programs. The revenue of local bodies have drastically increased. Local bodies, too, want to improve the situation. They are supporting us.

What is your priority now?

I want to bring changes in education and health sector. We can bring other changes also but these two sectors top the list.