A decade of armed-conflict wreaked havoc on government conservation efforts, especially in protected areas. However, with the end of insurgency, concerned stakeholders are strengthening conservation efforts, said officials. Laxmi Prasad Manandhar, chief education officer at Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), said that the National Planning Commission, through Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction (MoPR) and DNPWC, has released more than Rs 10 million for reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed during the insurgency. "We need infrastructure for conservation in various major protected areas," he said. According to Manandhar, money released recently for this fiscal year 2007/2008 will be used for re- construction of two-security posts each in Shukhlaphanta Wildlife Reserve and Bardiya National Park respectively. Similarly, one security post will be set up at Chitwan National Park (CNP). Meanwhile, DNPWC is planning to develop some development infrastructure in protected areas in mountain regions including Langtang, Dolpa, Mustang and Makalu. "All construction works will be completed by the end of this fiscal year," said Sher Singh Thagunna, assistant planning officer of DNPWC. Besides reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure inside major protected areas, DNPWC has released Rs 4 million for Prisoners' Reform Home at CNP. "The reform home needs to improve especially after the comments of Human Rights Organizations on the bad condition there," Manandhar said. A custody home at Kasara will also be renovated this fiscal year, he added. According to a DNPWC data, infrastructure worth more than Rs 50 million was destroyed during the decade long conflict in the country. Posted on: 2008-04-28 19:47:16 (Server Time)