Why Chure’s preservation is a matter of emergency

The Chure range, a vital ecological lifeline for Nepal's southern plains, is facing an unprecedented crisis. What was once a reliable source of groundwater, sustaining agriculture and life, is now critically depleted. The fragile geological structure of the hills, combined with rampant anthropogenic activities like illegal riverbed material extraction and haphazard urbanization, has accelerated erosion and landslides. This degradation directly impacts the Tarai-Madhesh region, leading to severe water scarcity, as evidenced by the recent acute drinking water shortages in major cities like Birgunj and Janakpur.

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Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. The already fragile range, with a weak geological structure, is steadily losing its ability to recharge groundwater.

Climate change has further compounded the problem, with erratic rainfall patterns and reduced precipitation intensifying the vulnerability of the region. Rivers that once flowed consistently are drying up as their sources in the Chure hills disappear. The fertile plains, essential for agriculture, are on the verge of becoming unproductive, threatening the livelihoods of millions. The rampant drilling of borewells for irrigation, a response to water scarcity, has only worsened the groundwater recharge problem, creating a vicious cycle of environmental degradation.

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Climate change has worsened the situation. Erratic rainfall patterns, reduced precipitation and short bursts of rain are all too common, intensifying the vulnerability of the Tarai-Madhesh region.

It is deeply concerning that successive governments, tasked with protecting this vital region, have instead engaged in reckless excavation of construction materials, even flouting existing bans to minimize trade deficits. Programs like the President Chure Conservation Programme, despite significant investment, have proven ineffective because the state itself profits from the environmental destruction. The alarming drop in groundwater levels—from 20-25 feet to below 100 feet—is a stark indicator of the damage. This is not merely an environmental issue; it is a national emergency threatening Nepal's water security, agricultural sustainability, and the very future of its southern plains, which are slowly but surely being desertified.

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The fact that groundwater once found at 20 to 25 feet below is now well below 100 feet shows the depth of harm caused to the Chure range.