DOLAKHA, Jan. 10 -- Kalinchowk of Dolakha district has been facing rampant deforestation and encroachment of public land as a result of tourism boom. There are many places where the locals have erected structures without taking permission from the authorities and chopped down trees in the nearby areas.

One local informed that there is a trend of cutting down trees to construct houses in encroached land. "Our laws do not permit cutting down trees but the people here have been breaching the laws because importing wood from outside the district is very expensive," said a local.

"We have no option other than chopping down the trees illegally. After all, we have to operate our hotels," he added.

Over 2,000 houses have been built in Kuri Baz...