7 August, Kailali: Nearly 22,000 hectares of forest area has been encroached upon in Kailali district.
Kailali district has the biggest forest area, 62 percent forest area, among 75 districts in the country.
The District Forest Office, Kailali, said the forest area was encroached upon in different parts of the district in the name of freed-Kamaiya, squatters, flood-affected, schools and temples, among others.
District Forest Officer Murari Prasad Pokharel said that so far 22,000 hectares forest area is infringed despite agreements were held between the political parties and local administration to displace encroachments and protect the forest area.
The Office said that Geta area has witnessed the biggest chunk of forest encroachment followed by Balchaur, Attariya and Chaumala areas. The district has 205,939 hectares forest area.
