Mud-filled reservoir creates crisis in water travel in Kaliganaki reservoir

By Arjun Kalfe, Syangja, March 16: Water travel which was being operated in the reservoir formed in the dam built by the ‘Kaligandaki A’ hydroelectric power station is facing trouble lately.

Water travel is facing a crisis as mud is falling from the pitched road into the reservoir along the Kaligandaki corridor and nearby area.

The six-kilometer water travel which was built to attract local tourists in the religious location of Setibeni from Mirmi is shortened by two kilometers due to the reservoir being filled with mud from the nearby roads. 

Earlier, people were enjoying water travel from the damn built by Adhikhola to Setibaini but now it has been shortened by two kilometers, because of which tourists are compelled to make it to Setibeni Shaligram Shila of Parbat sightseeing without enjoying water travel. The Adhikola damn was built 20 years ago.

Prem Majhi, Treasurer of Shila Shaligram Kaligandaki Water Transport Private Limited said that there has been a decrease in the number of local tourists because of the shortening of water travel, which originally was destined from the Mirmi Aadhimuhan to Setibeni Shaligram Shila of Parbat. 

He said that many local and international tourists are compelled to mark their water journey by foot from Galyang as the reservoir is now shortened by two kilometers for it is filled with mud. 

Stating that water travel is operated only when foreign tourists and tour groups visit, Majhi said that if the Kaligandaki reservoir is not managed on time, then, water travel will be stopped in near future.

According to Majhi, the voyage that was started in 2002 with a hand boat had grown to 10 steamboats in six years. In the 19 years of running of the voyage, there were two Mount Makalu fiber boats and 12 steamers, but, on September 26, 2021, the flood along with the landslide damaged nine of them, including both fiber boats, limiting the water journey in just three boats.

 Lack of ample tourists and irregularity in water travel as earlier, has resulted in increased fares, due to which tourists have to reserve steamers at high prices. 

10 steamers used to roll in in water journey previously, but, now it has become to do a single trip by three steamers. This has snatched the job of youths working as steamer drivers as well. 

Steamers, built by engines of buses and trucks, can carry 100 passengers in a single trip. Tourists are charged Rs 200 cost for a single-way voyage.