Biratnagar Metropolitan City-2 Monday, which was once covered with greenery, has turned into a place where it is difficult to breathe in summer. A pair of var and peepal trees stood here for years.

About two years ago they were cut . Instead, the ward did not plant trees again, but instead built an iron structure, the 'Eiffel Tower'. This plan was promoted by the ward as a beautiful park.

According to Ward President Kumar Pokharel, the tower was constructed by spending 1.5 million rupees on about 15 dhur public land. "Now there is a plan to build a square under the tower," he said, "the aim is for the general public to rest there."

Ward's decision for development is considered by many locals as an example of "indiscriminate urbanization". "How much coolness the varpeepal tree used to give in the summer!" said the local Harisinh Rajwansi, "Now what a day to sit in the square under the iron tower and seek shade!" Deepak Gyawali, Deputy Secretary of the Environment Department under the Ministry of Forest and Environment argued that cutting trees and erecting iron structures is not development. "It is not impossible to cut trees for development, it is possible, but there is also a process for it," he said, "it is wrong to build a development tower by cutting trees randomly without completing the process." He was very sad on the day of cutting down the varpeepal tree that he had been seeing for years. "Our society still considers it a matter of pride to cut trees in the name of development," he said, "It is not development, it is a loss of consciousness." Biratnagar, which was green in the past, is now like a treeless city. "There is not even a roof to cool down on hot summer days," said Chhetri, "After the city started cutting trees, we are embarking on a tree planting campaign."