Kathmandu, January 30
A ward office in Pokhara has decided to start a deforestation campaign due to their frustration with monkeys.
Ward 19 chair Pushpendra Paudel on Monday issued a notice asking people of the ward to be part of the campaign.
The notice has gone viral on social media as Paudel and the ward office are facing criticism for this initiative.
In the notice, the ward office has asked locals of Lamachaur to cut down all the trees within 10 days. The notice mentioned how this campaign was in line with the provincial government’s plan to put an end to the monkey menace in the city.
“Since there are so many trees, the monkeys have wreaked havoc in the area. With more trees than houses in the area, we have no choice but to cut down trees as we think this will stop them from entering the homes of people,” said Paudel.
Defending the notice, Paudel said the ward office does not want people to cut down all trees but only those that are on people’s properties.
Pokhara Metropolitan City, however, has said this decision did not come from the local government and was an initiative from the ward.
