Chitwan, Aug 30: Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Shankar Bhandari today said that a taskforce would be formed within a week in order to collect data on the encroachment of forest land across the country. 

Speaking at a press conference organised by the Chitwan chapter of the Nepal Press Union, the minister said the government would employ all its efforts to protect and conserve forests and wildlife across the country through the implementation of acts and rules.

He also said the government was doing homework itself to do something good in the forest sector that occupies 44 percent of the total land of the country, for sustainable future benefit.

On organising local body elections, he expressed view that the holding of local body elections is a must to implement the constitution and for that end, all parties should find consensus. RSS