KATHMANDU, July 4: In a bid to curb rapid encroachment of public land and preserve greenery in the capital, Hariyali Samaj has organized a tree plantation program in Tarakeshwar Municipality-10 on Sunday.
Over 200 tree saplings were planted with a view to revive the city's greenery, which has been receding under the pressure of rapid and haphazard urbanization in the capital.
Member of Parliament Ram Bir Manandhar, who was the chief guest at the plantation program, said that the locals as well as the local administration should work together to prevent encroachment of public lands.
According to Manandhar, there are over 1,400 ropanis of public lands in Tarakeshwar Municipality but most of them remain encroached. "River sides encroachment is also rampant in the area. It is our responsibility to monitor and reclaim the encroached lands," he said, adding, "Like in the other areas of the capital, we have to build roads on both sides of the rivers in order to develop our municipality."
Chairman of the Samaj, Rabindra Adhikari, claimed that the plantation program would not be limited to public lands. "We will start promoting the concept of two trees per home in the municipality soon," said Adhikari.
Meanwhile, the District Forest Office (DFO), Kathmandu said that it plans to plant 50,000 to 100,000 saplings in the district.