Volunteers lead Phewa Lake clean-up, government absent

Ram Bahadur Nepali, a resident of Gaighat near Phewa Lake, anxiously prepares each year for the rainy season, when the Phirkey River brings floods of waste into his community. The river flows directly into the lake, close to his home. For years, Ram Bahadur and his neighbors have voluntarily cleaned the area, a practice they began even before the establishment of the local government. Despite their efforts, no government representatives have ever inquired about their work, and no officials have participated in the clean-ups.

“We often find dead animals—cats, dogs, cows, and oxen—along with household waste brought by the river, especially during the rainy season. But we make sure it doesn’t enter the lake,” Nepali said, explaining how the community manages the waste on their own.

A significant issue in the area is a broken check dam, left unrepaired for nearly nine years after the Phirkey River’s overflow destroyed it. Despite repeated requests, the local government has taken no action to fix it.

This problem extends beyond Gaighat, as other areas around Phewa Lake face similar challenges. For decades, civil society and local communities have worked tirelessly to preserve the lake, removing tons of waste each year. They express frustration at the lack of government attention, noting that officials neither monitor the types nor the volume of waste collected.

“We do this for the public good and for our own satisfaction, but it would be much better if the government also took action,” said Ram Bahadur Poudel, a long-time advocate for Phewa Lake’s sanitation and founding chairperson of Civil Society Kaski.

The Civil Society Kaski has led voluntary waste management efforts around Phewa Lake for years. Their records show that during each clean-up, they collect nearly 30 truckloads of water hyacinth and half a dozen trucks of plastic waste. Local contributors believe that with government investment of Rs 2bn to Rs 5bn, Phewa Lake could be fully restored. “But instead of addressing the root causes, the government offers only superficial solutions and fails to recognize the contributions of local communities,” said Poudel.

“It’s been almost a decade since the local government was assigned to address this issue, but the situation remains unchanged,” said Narendra Man Lalchan, chairperson of Civil Society Kaski. According to civil society members, Phewa Lake faces multiple threats, including land encroachment, unregulated construction, impunity for illegal settlements, poor waste management, and a disregard for biodiversity. These factors have contributed to the lake’s gradual shrinking.

To combat this, civil society has mobilized hundreds of local community members and organizations in clean-up efforts. “In the past few years, we’ve managed to draw some attention from the authorities, after numerous pressure campaigns,” said campaigner Ram Bahadur Poudel, reflecting on the latest clean-up initiative.