By Bishnu Prasad Pokharel
Damak, Feb. 5: Locals and local bodies in Jhapa have been conserving wetland areas and promoting them as tourist destinations.
Many wetland areas earlier buried under weeds and muds have been restored in the last four years, especially after the local elections of 2017, and the areas have turned into tourist sites where domestic visitors throng on holidays.

Among many wetlands, the Indreni wetland area located in Damak-10 of the district is now getting its facelift. Formulation of a master plan is going on rapidly for the development of this wetland.
According to locals, conservation works have started by building a dam in the 40-year-old Bhalu Khola. The dam supplies water to the Indreni wetland round the year. Domestic tourists visiting it have already increased.
The wetland, spreading across 10 bighas of land, lay neglected for nearly two decades.
Mayor of Damak Municipality Romnath Oli said that the work of Indreni wetland conservation with a master plan of Rs. 15 million has started. The municipality has focused on conserving old wetlands and lakes, Mayor Oli said.

It is said that a detailed master plan has been prepared for the ponds and wetlands in Gauradaha, spread across an area of 14 bighas in the Gauradaha Bazaar of Jhapa.
Although the work has started as per the master plan, there is a problem because of shortfall in budget, said Nagendra Bhandari, chairman of Ward No. 1 and spokesperson for Gauridaha Municipality.
Conservation is being done both in terms of environment and tourism and as per the master plan of Rs. 110 million, Bhandari said. Domestic tourists also come to see the pond. The Sadhuholi wetland area at Jhapa's Kamal Rural Municipality-5 has also become a tourist attraction in recent times.

He said that work was underway to develop Sadhuholi wetland, which practically has no infrastructure or facilities, as tourist destination with a master plan.
Another wetland and tourist site is under construction in the area of 10 bighas of the Ratuwamai Tree Plantation Project site in Ward No. 3, Sano Kerkha.
According to one local Shiva Dhungel, work to develop the wetland and tourist site had begun by forming Balmiki Ashram Wetland Conservation Committee in 2014.

He said that the committee had started the work by making a master plan for the construction of structures including a watchtower, meeting hall, pond and garden. But recently, the work has been halted for lack of budget.
The work was also promoted three years ago by holding a large cultural and literary programme.
The most popular tourist attraction in Jhapa is Jamunbari wetland. Out of 401.25 hectares of community forest land, 10 hectares has been developed as a wetland area there.