Ramechhap is losing vast swathes of its forestland to what officials say haphazard road network expansion.

District Forest Office (DFO) Chief Kedarnath Paudel said in many places local residents and the road authority have constructed roads without environmental assessment.

“Trees are being stripped down in great numbers. We cannot stop them because they are protected by the local political leaders,” Paudel said.

A forest consumers’ committee or the road authority are allowed to cut down trees for building roads only if the road project has been placed in the government’s priority list. This rule, however, is being disregarded in case of Ramechhap, Paudel said.

He added that conducting environmental assessment is a compulsory procedure for road projects that exceeds the budget of Rs 1 million.

Besides, the locals are also required to plant trees close to the area where the road was constructed.

“This rule, too, is not being followed,” Paudel said.

Man Bahadur Shrestha, a resident of Salu village, said unplanned road network expansion has led to landslides in various parts of the district.

“Sources of water have dried off in many places. Sure, it is important to have road links but that should not come at the cost of one’s environment,” Shrestha said.

According to the DFO, Ramechhap has lost around 160 hectares of its forestland to several road projects and human encroachment.