Progress report on Phewa Lake submitted to PM

By Phadindra Adhikari,Lekhnath, Apr. 3: A progress report on ongoing efforts to demarcate Phewa Lake and free it from encroachment has been submitted to the Prime Minister. The report, prepared by Pokhara Metropolitan City, outlines the work carried out so far to implement the mandamus order issued by the Supreme Court. It has been sent to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah had contacted Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya by telephone last Sunday to inquire about the progress on the lake. Mayor Acharya said the report was dispatched on Thursday. 

“As the Prime Minister showed concern, we have sent details of the work completed so far,” he said.

The report was forwarded through Khagda Raj Paudel, who was elected from Kaski Constituency No. 1 and currently serves as Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. The government’s 100-point good governance plan includes a commitment to begin removing encroachments on Phewa Lake within three months.

A facilitation committee, formed under the coordination of Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey, has already created a subcommittee to demarcate the lake boundary and install boundary poles along its perimeter.

In 2018, the Supreme Court issued a mandamus order declaring land registrations along the lake carried out after 1974 invalid. It directed authorities to maintain a 65-metre standard from the lake’s edge, beautify vacant land and remove both natural and human-made encroachments.

A meeting of the facilitation committee on Wednesday also decided to lift restrictions on land located beyond the 65-metre boundary. Mayor Acharya said that structures built on illegally registered land will now be removed, while details of structures eligible for compensation will be prepared and submitted to the federal government.

“The Prime Minister’s interest has encouraged us. We believe the federal government will carry out its responsibilities on time,” he said. “We have talked enough about Phewa Lake - now it is time to act.”

The government had earlier formed a committee in 2011 under the coordination of Bishwo Prakash Lamichhane to study encroachment and define the lake’s boundaries. The committee submitted its report on May 16, 2012.

Based on that report, the Supreme Court issued a landmark verdict assigning responsibilities to all three tiers of government regarding the conservation of Phewa Lake. Although the order was to be implemented within six months, it has remained largely unimplemented for seven years.

Lamichhane said that proper implementation of the court’s order would mark a historic step in conserving the lake. “The decision can be implemented. What is needed is political will,” he said. “A coordinated effort by all three levels of government is essential to protect Phewa Lake,” he added.