Chitwan National Park Issues 15-Day Notice to Remove Encroachments

Kathmandu, April 29: Chitwan National Park has issued a 15-day notice asking individuals and organizations to remove structures built by encroaching on public land within the park and its buffer zone.

In a notice issued on April 28, the park office directed people to clear permanent and temporary huts, picnic spots, sheds, scaffolding, and other structures built in buffer forests, buffer community forests, concession forests, roadside areas, streams, and riverbanks.

The park stated that occupying land outside legal rights, cutting trees, clearing forests, or cultivating forest areas are offenses under the law. It urged those involved to remove the structures within the given deadline.

According to the park, legal action can be taken under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973. The law provides for fines, imprisonment of up to one year, or both depending on the nature of the offense.

Officials said various organizations and individuals have been using land within the park and buffer zone by constructing different structures. Although the park has attempted to remove such encroachments in the past, the efforts were not successful.