As water dries up, Morang’s Kamal Pokhari reduced to grassland

By Hari Prasad Koirala,Urlabari, Apr. 16: While many government authorities are constructing artificial ponds for tourism promotion or to mitigate water-related issues, Kamal Pokhari, a natural pond at Kechana in Ward No. 7 of Sunawarshi Municipality in Morang district has dried up for lack of conservation efforts.

Locals informed that the encroachment nearby the pond and lack of concern for its conservation had led the water to dry up, turning the pond into a grassland. 

The pond is said to have been in existence since antiquity. 

While there used to be water at Kamal Pokhari throughout the year and colourful lotuses bloomed and floated on its surface, cattle graze and people rest at the green grassy land these days.

“I have many memories of Kamal Pokhari as it has been a major destination for me and my friends since childhood. 

When I returned home on Holi in March and went to the pond, I was saddened to see it dried up for the first time,” said Sanam Rai, a resident of neighbouring Pathari-Shanishchare Municipality currently living in Kathmandu.

The pond lies at a 13-km distance from from Rangeli Bazaar in the Rangeli-Biratnagar road section.

Locals informed that the pond dried up because of lack of investment to manage an alternative water source for the pond. Despite a major tourism destination for locals from several neighbouring local levels, neither the Sunawarshi Municipality nor the Koshi Province government has shown needed concern over the pond.

“When there was water, red, blue and white lotuses floated on the surface. We could also see aquatic life such as fish, turtle and waterhen, among others. Many kinds of birds also arrived at the pond daily. Now, there is only an open grassland,” said Gyan Bahadur Basnet, a local.

The pond has an area of around nine bighas and has a temple of Jaleshwor Mahadev in the middle. The temple was set up by bringing a Shivalinga from the Narmada River, a holy river for Hindus in India.

On its bank, there are Sakela Than of Kirat community and a Kirateshwor Temple and Hindu’s Hanuman Temple and Ram Temple among others.

“The locals and Mangal Singh Secondary School has taken up the responsibility of taking care of the pond. We have now created a detailed project report for Kamal Pokhari’s conservation. 

We will implement it by coordinating with the school,” said Shyam Kumar Rajbanshi, Mayor of Sunawarshi.