Pokhara Metropolitan City planning ‘clean city, green city’ programme

By Our Correspondent,Kaski, Apr. 17: The task of identifying potential tree planting areas to transform Pokhara Metropolitan City into a 'clean city, green city' has reached its final phase. A task force formed under the coordination of Dr. Seshkant Bhandari, Associate Professor at the Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus informed that the work had reached its final stage.

A research team was formed under the initiative of Dhana Raj Acharya, Mayor of the metropolis, to strengthen the urban forestry programme and achieve the goal of a clean and green city. The objective is to identify suitable tree plantation sites, enhance the urban forestry programme, identify appropriate species of plants and prepare a tree planting plan for Pokhara Metropolitan City.

According to the task force, the tree species are selected based on the community preferences, aesthetic value and resistance to damage caused by wind. Evergreen trees and tree species of religious importance are given priority.

The research identified that 38 species of trees could be planted across 29 public spaces covering 125 hectares, along 67 km of river banks and 7 km of roads and highways. The selected floras include the banyan, pipal, rhododendron, mango, Indian gooseberry, bamboo and others. It indicated that more than 218,000 trees could be planted in potential areas of the metropolitan city. 

Dr. Bhandari, the coordinator of the task force, said that there was a possibility of planting 73,399 trees in open public spaces and 144,604 trees along roadsides, riverbanks and streams.

Mayor Acharya pointed out the necessity of urban forest management in the metropolitan area. He said that the task force was formed to identify potential areas for the plantation of trees in open and vacant spaces. 

Additionally, stakeholders suggested conducting a comprehensive analysis of tree selection criteria based on necessity, priority and environmental compatibility.