Shuklaphanta Reserve Evictees' Plight: Promises Unkept as Elections Approach Again

Kanchanpur. The issue of the Shuklaphanta Reserve evictees, which becomes an election agenda for political parties in every election, is once again on the campaign manifestos of candidates in this election. It has been two decades since the agenda for the resettlement of reserve evictees has been part of local and federal elections.

The evictees, displaced during the expansion of the then Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (now Shuklaphanta National Park) in 2058 BS, are still living in camps in various locations in Kanchanpur. The Shuklaphanta area, initially 150 square kilometers, was expanded to 305 square kilometers. During this expansion, 2,473 families were displaced and are now forced to live a miserable life near the forest.