Floods take toll on Baraha Pokhari Lake

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.