Kathmandu, Jan. 10 -- Environmentalists have slammed the ongoing construction of Madan Bhandari Highway, which passes via the fragile Chure range, for the adverse impact it will have on the range and the Tarai belt downstream.

An environmental impact report, prepared after a field study of the 371-km Hetauda-Sindhuli-Gaighat-Basaha-Chatara section of the under-construction highway, concludes that the sensitive geology of Chure, environmental aspects like biodiversity, wildlife corridors, and forest protection were completely ignored while planning and building the highway.

"Around 25-30 percent of the highway will pass via the Chure, which is already a fragile zone facing massive exploitation," said Bishwamani Pokharel, a geologist and ...