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Road upgrading work is underway on the Surkhet section of Madan Bhandari Highway. While work is progressing satisfactorily in the eastern part of the district, delays in obtaining clearance for tree felling have affected upgrading efforts in the western part of the district.

Work on the 45-kilometer section between Baddichaur and Balde in the western part of the district has been impacted. Since the road traverses through forested areas, clearance from the federal cabinet is mandatory to fell trees. Due to the delay in getting approval to fell trees, the contractor is focusing on sections where tree felling is not required. This road connects the western parts of the district to the district headquarters, Birendranagar. Local residents have been experiencing significant hardships due to the delays in road upgrading work.

The western section of the highway has been divided into three segments. The Baddichaur-Khambagade segment spans 13 km, with approximately 7 km passing through forested areas. Progress in this segment is sluggish due to the lack of forest clearance. Nevertheless, the construction company is actively working on other components such as drainage and culvert construction, Gabion wall installation.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the 22-km second segment between Bidyapur and Balde has already received approval. However, the proposal for forest clearance for this segment is also pending in the cabinet. The third segment, spanning 10 kilometers from Khambagade to Bidyapur, is being managed by the Karnali Province government, and work has not yet commenced on this portion.

“Work on the eastern section is progressing according to plan as we have already received forest clearance for that section. However, work on the western section has been hindered by the delay in obtaining forest clearance,” Shambu Prasad Acharya, the project’s chief, said.

The project office is currently opening and widening tracks on this section. According to the project office, the project can still be completed on time if clearance is obtained promptly.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Nanda Chapain, who recently visited the site, expressed her commitment to removing obstacles in the road upgrading project. “I will take the necessary steps to secure forest clearance at the earliest,” she affirmed.

Cases of viral fever and dengue have been increasing in Sarlahi district for the past few days. The number of patients visiting private and government health facilities to receive treatment has increased lately.

The infection of viral fever is spreading rapidly following the change in the weather in the wake of incessant rainfall for a week, said Dr Nawal Kishore Jha, Deputy Medical Superintendent at the Provincial Hospital, Malangawa.

Patients complaining of sore throat, weakness and high fever are high in number in the hospital of late, said Dr Alok Kumar Kushbaha, Chief of Lalbandi Model Hospital.

Some 10 to 20 patients with infection of viral fever visit healthcare facilities at Lalbandi, Nawalpur, Hariban and Bagmati daily, added Dr Kushbaha.

Most of the viral fever cases were reported at Lalbandi, Nawalpur and Hariban, according to Mumtaz Mikrani, Chief of Department of Health at Lalbandi Municipality.

Similarly, cases of dengue are also on the rise in the district, according to Dr Jha at the Provincial Hospital. There are 61 dengue infected patients reported in the district at present.

To be protected from dengue and viral fever, doctors have advised to keep the surroundings clean so as to keep away mosquitoes and do not closely contact with the infected persons.

Meanwhile, those infected have been advised to take a rest and stay indoor as much as possible while it's scorching hot outside and follow health related precautions.

Baraha Pokhari Lake, a religious and tourist site in Khotang, included in the government’s list of next 100 destinations, is in a deteriorating state.

Situated in Baraha Pokhari Rural Municipality-1, this lake of great religious significance has suffered damage from monsoon floods and the subsequent debris deposits. The once spherical lake now appears altered due to debris deposits.

“Authorities in the rural municipality are not taking the necessary steps to restore the lake to its original form,” Dhruba Giri, a local of the area, said. Floodwaters continue to deposit debris in this lake which measures 330 meters in length and 210 meters in width. Some local people say that the water level has been gradually declining since the earthquake that occurred 90 years ago.

Another resident of the area, Dilliram Giri, mentioned that the 2015 earthquakes caused cracks to appear in the land near the lake. Surrounded by lush green hills on all sides, the lake has the potential to become a tourist destination if necessary infrastructure is built and needful promotional efforts are taken. However, the lake is facing an existential crisis due to a lack of conservation efforts. Despite the absence of a visible water source, the lake maintains its water throughout the year. The presence of red fish, native to the lake, adds to the allure of Baraha Pokhari.

Dhak Bahadur Karki, the ward chairman, suggests that the lake can be preserved by constructing structures to control the flow of debris. Locals say that the lake can return to its original state if water from a nearby river is diverted to it during the winter season. “Although the local unit derives its name from this lake, the authorities there are doing nothing for its preservation,” they lament.

The rare red fish found in the lake are dying due to a lack of conservation efforts. Locals report observing dead fish floating on the lake’s surface every day. Although no formal study has been conducted to determine the cause of the fish deaths, locals believe that increasing pollution in the lake’s waters is a contributing factor.

As local residents wash their clothes and bathe in the lake, it is believed that the soap water is causing the decline in fish population. Others attribute the declining fish population to rising temperatures. Fish experts explain that as water levels decrease and organic matter in the water increases, fish become susceptible to fungal infections and fluke rot disease, leading to their deaths. Some believe that the lack of attention to pond cleanliness also results in oxygen depletion due to the accumulated garbage.

Police have restricted night-time vehicular movement along the Kaligandaki corridor in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat-Susta-East).

The restriction has been imposed due to ongoing construction in the corridor.

According to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at the District Police Office, Nawalpur, Bed Bahadur Poudel, the night-time vehicular movement has been restricted taking into consideration the high risk of accidents in the corridor construction areas.

The Kaligandaki corridor is around 87 kilometers long in Nawalpur.

DSP Poudel said the ban on vehicular movement has been imposed to minimize risks.

As mobile connectivity was a big problem in almost half of the corridor section, it was difficult to carry out rescue works if accidents took place, he added.

"The corridor is under construction. It has increased accident risks. Rescue has been a big issue in the night time here", he further shared.

DSP Poudel said coordination was being made with the Nepal Telecom in regard to the installation of a mobile tower in the areas having less access to communications.

Vehicular movement will be allowed after establishing access to communications and completing the construction of the corridor, he informed.

Almost 80 percent of the under-construction Nawalpur section of the Kaligandaki corridor has been completed.

Small vehicles were being operated along the Kaligandaki corridor from Nawalpur to other mountainous districts.