Damak, Jan. 30 -- An artificial pond was constructed on the premises of the wetland inside the Hamse Dumse Community Forest in Damak Municipality last August. The pond was constructed in a bid to promote eco-tourism in the area. However, a few days after the construction, 14-year-old Osim Magar drowned in the pond. Five days later, another local, 20-year-old Madan Shrestha, died after drowning in another pond constructed inside the Pashupati Wetland Area of the same municipality.

District Forest Division Office Chief Bishnu Lal Ghimire said that community forests' officials have been carrying out haphazard constructions inside the forest land even as the division has time and again informed them about the precautions they must take to co...