Incident Reports

Locals protested the governmental plan to expand Koshi Tappu reserve

2015-08-02

Madhes, Saptari, Hanumannagar Kankalini

Locals from more than half a dozen VDCs in Saptari district are agitating against the extension of Koshi Tappu areas. Locals in the eastern part of the district have resorted to protest after the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) decided to expand its area in the buffer zone. The buffer zone extends to around 7-km from Kankalini Temple situated in Bhardaha VDC, which is the end of the reserve in the district. The KTWR is a protected area with 175 sq km of wetlands in the Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur districts. A decade ago, the then government had declared the western embankment areas as the buffer zone. Following the declaration, locals from more than half a dozen villages including Bhardaha, Portaha, Bairawa, Madhwapur, Kamalpur, and Odraha had protested the government decision saying they had been using the buffer zone area for centuries. After the then government assured that the decision would not be implemented, the locals had withdrawn their agitation. With the government in the budget for the current fiscal year allocating budget for expanding the reserve area to the buffer zone, locals have once again started agitation against the government decision. The government has this year allocated budget for developing the reserve as a touristic destination for bird-watching and giving more locals employment in the reserve. A 101-members struggle committee led by Shambhu Jha, a local of Bhardaha VDC, has been formed to intensify their protest against the government's decision. The locals are backed by the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal. On Monday, the committee staged a protest at Bhardaha VDC and has decided to stage demonstration Tuesday at the district headquarters Rajbiraj. "We'll submit a memorandum to the prime minister through the chief district officer," said Jha, coordinator of the committee. They will also communicate their decision to the Indian authority, which is responsible for Koshi barrage conservation. "If the reserve area is further expanded, we'll be displaced," Jha said.
Details and Impacts
Violent / Non-violent Nonviolent
Primary Form Demonstration
Primary Cause Access/control of public land
Actor 1 - Number of people 100
Actor 1 - Affiliations Citizen/Individuals
Actor 1 - Youth na
Actor 2 - Number of people n/a
Actor 2 - Affiliation (Target) Local authorities (incl VDC, district, gov. line agencies at local level except education and health)
Actor 2 - Youth na
National/Online Media

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