Though the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation has barred hoteliers in the buffer zone from erecting buildings taller than two stories, the standard is not being followed in the lack of proper monitoring.[break]
“No one is following the rule. There are many hotels in Sauraha that have more than two stories,” Shankar Sainju, a hotelier in Sauraha, said. “This is happening in the lack of proper monitoring.”
With the objective to preserve environment and wildlife habitat in the UNESCO World Heritage site, the department had introduced the building standard seven years ago. The department has also set rules for construction of fish pond and factory buildings, among others in the buffer zone.
The standard fixed by the department clearly states that no hotels or lodges near the national park can have more than two stories. It also requires the hoteliers to construct buildings in such a way that it reflects local culture. Likewise, the standard also asks hoteliers to leave enough space and furnish proper idea for waste management before starting building construction.
As per the rule, hoteliers should get the approval from the department before starting construction works.
“It is the responsibility of the department to see whether or the standard has been followed,” Sainju said, adding that the officials of the department were declining to monitor the hotels despite their repeated calls.
The government can cancel operating license of hotels if they are found flouting the standard.
Megh Bahadur Pandey, director general of the department, conceded that the standard was not being enforced effectively. “It has already been years that the standard was introduced. But we have not been able to enforce it effectively,” he added.
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