News Summary
- Although the Ram temple established five years ago in Madi, Chitwan has become a national topic of discussion, locals suffer losses from wild animal damage.
- Farmers in Madi face issues with wild animals destroying crops, receiving low compensation, and risking jail if animals are killed.
- Budget cuts to the national park have hindered fence maintenance and animal control efforts; lack of a consumer committee has caused coordination challenges.
March 24, Chitwan – Roughly five years ago, a heated national debate arose over whether the characters of the Ramayana, specifically Lord Ram, originated from India or Nepal. Then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stirred controversy by asserting that Sita was not Indian but from Ayodhya. This sparked a nationwide discussion trying to confirm the true birthplace of Lord Ram.
Following this debate, a statue of Lord Ram was installed and a temple constructed. Statues of Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman were ceremoniously brought from Baluwatar and placed in Ayodhyapuri, Madi, Chitwan. The temple was built at Krishnanagar ward no. 9, Madi Municipality, on nearly 100 bighas of land with an investment of about 16 million Nepalese rupees.
However, the scene today, five years later, is quite different from the initial enthusiasm. The temple does not attract as many tourists, nor does it match the imagined grandeur. Along the way, stones imprinted with the names ‘Ram’ and ‘Sita’ bear environmental conservation messages, but the site lacks the expected vibrancy.
Despite the religious issue becoming nationalized, local problems in Madi have received little attention. While the Ram temple drew nationwide discussion, local residents have been suffering from attacks by wild animals. The impact of wild animal invasions on locals has barely been noticed.
Locals do not feel that the central government has taken a special interest in addressing the Ram temple area, although the situation severely affects their daily lives.
Madi valley is surrounded by Chitwan National Park and the buffer zone from the east, west, and north, and by the Someshwar mountain range to the south. The farmers’ conditions here differ significantly from other regions. Each morning, farmers worry about how much damage wild animals caused overnight to their crops.
Rhinos, wild elephants, leopards, and monkeys venture from the national park into farmlands, feeding on crops. This destruction by wildlife has been ongoing in Madi for years.
Savitri Bhattarai, a 55-year-old local, continues to struggle with these issues. She shared, “Rhinos come behind our house at night. They can be found anywhere in the fields, eating the crops and moving on.”
Savitri is afraid to go to the fields at night. “Someone has to watch the crops to protect them. After the rice matures, our sons take turns staying overnight in the fields.”
Her neighbor Debu Pahari Pandey reported similar problems: “Nobody is able to ward off the animals, and it’s impossible to do it every night. The animals come, devour the crops, and leave. There is no way to stop them; we just have to watch.”
The problems extend beyond the fields. Last March, Savitri lost two goats to a leopard attack. The national park authorities compensated her with 10,000 rupees, but this amount was far less than the goats’ value. She also shared that receiving compensation is a difficult process.
“You must photograph the dead or killed animal, visit the park, submit documents, and wait. It is a bit troublesome, but it’s the only remedy. You just have to accept it.”
“Low Compensation, Jail Sentence Even When Killing Animals”
According to Kulbahadur Ranabhat of Krishnanagar, Madi, a monkey that died in a neighbor’s field led to him being accused of killing a wild animal, resulting in a three-month jail sentence. He said, “When animals kill people, compensation is minimal, but when we kill animals, we go to jail. What can we do? If we try to protect crops, we get caught.”
His neighbor’s house was recently destroyed by elephants. The house was damaged just 10 days ago, as elephants came into the village, damaged the home, and returned to the forest. It will take five months to rebuild. This kind of incident is neither the first nor the last in the village.
Ranabhat himself engages in fish and goat farming, but problems escalate when animals devour his fish feed. “Elephants eat the fish food and also destroy banana plants. I have around two bighas of ponds for fish farming. If successful, it generates an annual income of 1.5 to 2 million Nepalese rupees. But raising fish requires months of effort; one night with elephants can ruin everything. No compensation is provided.”
“Those Who Can Cry, Cry; We The Elderly Must Endure”
Dhanmaya Tamang, a 70-year-old resident of the Chepang community in Madi–9, pointed toward the fields, stating, “All the monkeys you see in front destroy the crops at night.”
She added, “The Chepang settlements are deeply impoverished and diverse. Those who can afford it build shelters and watch the fields through the night, but elderly people like us have no choice but to bear the losses. We don’t receive compensation. Our communities have not been highlighted.”
Dhanmaya’s family settled in this area eight years ago after being relocated by the government. Their original settlement was by Kusum River in Madi but was destroyed by fire under national park administration, forcing displacement. They have been living in the current location since then.
Though earlier elephants and rhinos caused trouble, currently, they mostly suffer losses due to monkeys. “Rhinos no longer come here, but monkeys damage the crops even if they aren’t our own. It’s distressing.”
Need for Modern Fencing and Timely Repairs
Locals, while describing their problems, also suggest non-harmful solutions to protect wildlife. Savitri Bhattarai urged erecting strong fences along Rewa River, between the national park and settlements, as a means to restrict wild animals.
“We repeatedly requested the buffer zone community forest management to install fencing but the work has been substandard,” said Debu Pahari.
Kulbahadur Ranabhat added that while issues like the Ram temple attract large national budgets, local concerns such as effective fencing to prevent animal intrusion remain neglected.
“Budget Cuts Worsen the Problem”
According to Abhinash Thapa, Information Officer of Chitwan National Park, the budget allocation for the buffer zone area has been significantly reduced, creating challenges. He explained that insufficient funds limit work capacity.
Fence installations were carried out about three years ago in some buffer zones, but local lack of awareness has led to poor maintenance. Locals misuse the fences by drying clothes or damaging them, further adding to the issue.
“Strong fencing is necessary. The budget is decreasing, and without local protection, it’s difficult to maintain. Water streams also let animals in. Efforts for long-term solutions are underway.”
Rishiram Suvedi, ranger of Chitwan National Natural Resource Conservation Fund, noted that frequent streams in the area cause damages to the fences. Without prompt repair of damages, the problem worsens.
“We cannot install fences across streams; installed fences break during the rainy season. Without timely repairs, issues increase,” he said.
