Gandaki govt to restore hot water spring washed away by flood

By Yadu Prasad Bhatta,Manang, Mar. 18: A massive flood on June 15, 2021, washed away the Tatopani Kunda (hot water spring ) of Manang. The flood destroyed the structure of the popular natural hot water spring located at Chame of Chame Rural Municipality-5. 

The Gandaki Province government has expressed concerns about the conservation of the structure of Tatopani Kunda as it is one of the tourist destinations in Manang.

Munindra Jung Gurung, Gandaki Province Assembly member, said that the province government has allocated Rs. 1.5 million for the maintenance of the hot water spring. 

"We have made an effort to conserve the source of the spring located in the district headquarters, the budget has been allocated so that tourists coming to Manang are not deprived of enjoying the hot spring,” said Gurung.

The Land and Watershed Management Office under the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment of Gandaki Province government has allocated the budget for the maintenance of the pond under the Annual Development Programme of the current fiscal year. 

Similarly, he informed that the province government has received the budget for the construction of the trekking route from the Tatopani Kunda to Karte and Dharapani of Chame Rural Municipality-2. He further said that the budget has been allocated for the construction of an alternative trekking route.

Lawmaker Gurung said that the construction of the trekking route has been carried out by adjusting it with amendments from the cabinet meeting. 

The alternative trekking route falls in Nason Rural Municipality Ward Nos. 1, 2 and 3, and Rs. 3 million has been allocated for this trekking route, said Gurung. "The process will move forward in the ministry, and construction work will start here simultaneously,” said Gurung.

People from all over Nepal come to Manang to bathe in the hot springs here with the belief that their cold-related ailments will be cured. As per the locals, the number of tourists coming to bathe in Tatopani has significantly decreased after the flood in Marsyangdi River washed away the hot water spring. 

Similarly, the settlement of Tachai village of Nason Rural Municipality-8 is at risk due to the erosion of the Ghattekhola and Marsyangdi Rivers. Rs 1.5 million has been allocated for the conservation of Tachai settlements. 

Jaya Bista, Chief of the Infrastructure Development Office, Manang, said that the work would be started as it was time to carry out development works in Manang as per the budget allocated by the state. He said the development works would gain momentum in Manang after the winter.