Preparing to declare Mera Peak National Park
The government is preparing to declare Mera Peak Mountain in Solukhumbu, which is on the list of the world's most attractive destinations for tourists. Preparations are on its way to declare the area between Everest and Makalu Varun National Park.
Preparations are on the way to submit the report prepared by the study task force for the establishment of Mera Peak National Park to the government. Local people's representatives in the affected areas of the proposed Mera Peak National Park have demanded immediate declaration of the park.
As the areas of Mahakulung, Sotang and Mapya Dudhkoshi villages of Solukhumbu will be occupied, the chairpersons of those local levels have said that the government should address the demands of the locals as soon as possible. Chairman of Mahakulung Village Municipality demanded immediate declaration of the park including Mera Peak Himal. Chairman of Sotang Village Municipality said that the government should declare the park as per the demand of the locals and conduct tourism activities.
Uttam Kumar Basnet, a member of the state assembly from Solukhumbu, said that there was no alternative to declaring the park by including the Mera Peak area to provide services to the communities who have not been able to benefit from the Everest National Park despite living in Solukhumbu district. National Assembly MP Sonam Galzen Sherpa, who is also the former chairperson of the Everest National Park Intermediate Zone Management Committee, said that the government should help in the livelihood of the people in remote areas by reducing the Mawan-Wildlife Conflict by declaring the park.
According to Dil Pun, coordinator of the proposed Mera Peak National Parks Study Task Force, the area is home to rare wildlife such as snow leopards and habre (red pandas). He said that the government was losing revenue due to the absence of government agencies even though the number of domestic and foreign tourists was increasing.
Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation said that the task force has been formed as per the demand of the locals and the study report will be submitted to the ministry soon as it is an area where wildlife and flora are considered rare in the world.
