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The Pokhara Metropolitan City is going to remove structures such as workshops and garages located along the main road.

Preparations have started to remove workshops and scrap collection centers on highways and major roads within the metropolitan area.

The Metropolitan City has issued a notice giving 35 days to remove workshops on the right side of the main road from Kotre to Setipul of the Pokhara section of the Prithvi Highway, from Chhorepatan to Prithvi Chowk of the Siddhartha Highway and from Jirokimi to Phedi of the Pokhara Baglung Highway.

Similarly, the metropolis has stated that due to the scrap collection centers, workshops, car wash, and grill industries operating on the stalls and vacant lands on both sides of the main roads in the urban area, there has been difficulty in traffic movement and has also spoiled the city's aesthetics. 

Such industries have been informed to be managed elsewhere as they have an adverse effect on maintaining environmental cleanliness in the metropolitan area, said Metropolitan Mayor Dhanraj Acharya.

Similarly, the Metropolitan City has urged hardware shops, depots and other businesses operating in designated areas not to place construction materials, signboards and other items and materials on the roadside.

Mayor Acharya said that non-compliance with the metropolis' request and operating such businesses or enterprises and storing materials in designated areas will be dealt with according to the prevailing law.

The metropolitan city has also appealed to the residents to extend support to it in the campaign of removing structures such as workshops from highways and main road areas.

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Kulman Ghising directed the contractor company to expedite the completion of the under-construction Muglin-Pokhara road.

While inspecting the western section of the Prithvi Highway from Jamune to Pokhara today, he directed the construction company to complete the work on time and facilitate smooth traffic.

On the occasion, he acquired information about the progress made so far from Jamune to Pokhara under the western section and expressed his commitment to assist in resolving issues.

A physical progress of 59.76 percent and financial progress of 47.80 percent has been made so far in terms of road expansion in the western section.

According to Krishna Bahadur Kunwar, the Head of the project, laying the first layer of asphalt has been completed in one direction on 37.4 km out of the 48.88 kilometre stretch. 

He informed the Minister that a four-lane asphalt road was completed on 29.61 km and a two-lane asphalt road was completed on 7.79 km.

Out of 12 bridges in the section, 11 have been constructed while a bridge is under construction over the Seti River.

Project Head Kunwar said that in the last fiscal year, out of the target to upgrade 25 km of road in the western section to four lanes, 23.08 km was asphalted.

The project office stated that out of the target to construct 66 culverts, 65 have been completed, and out of the target to construct 51.5 km of drainage, 45.2 km has been completed.

An agreement was signed with the construction company on May 17, 2021. 

The deadline for completion of the project with a cost of Rs 7.40 billion is on December 31.

Foreign tourists received tika on the occasion of Bhai Tika in Pokhara on Thursday.

Hotel Association Pokhara organized the Bhai Tika program at Hotel Pauwa in Lakeside.

Association President Laxman Subedi said that the event was organized with an objective to make the tourism sector more dynamic by promoting tourism through culture.

He said that foreign tourists enthusiastically participated in the Bhai Tika program.

On the occasion, the participants were provided information about the importance of Tihar and tika.

Hotel Mystic Mountain, which has been providing excellent service in the hospitality sector for eight years, has started its service in Pokhara also.

Hilly Valley Pvt. Ltd has brought Hotel Mystic Mountain, which had previously been operating from Nagarkot, as a franchise to Pokhara, the tourist capital.

The hotel, located near Phewa Lake, offers a panoramic and breathtaking view of Pokhara's beautiful areas.

Amita Shrestha, Sales and Marketing Manager at Hotel Mystic Mountain, said that the hotel is suitable for guests who want to stay in a peaceful, natural greenery and clean environment.

Shrestha said that it is a matter of happiness and pride for the hotel, which has been providing excellent service in Nagarkot, to provide service in Pokhara, the famous tourist destination of Nepal.

The four-star hotel, which was opened with an objective to provide quality and satisfactory services to domestic and international tourists, has facilities like cable car service to Sarangkot, gym, steam room, sauna, conference hall and swimming pool among others. The hotel currently has 60 suit rooms.

Businessmen Manmohan Krishna Shrestha, Kamal Banskota and Sagar Gurung are the operators of the hotel.

The hotel has also provided transportation facilities for guests from lakeside to hotel.

With the opening of the hotel, discounts will also be given for the guests for a while.  

Life in Kaski is limping back to normalcy following the unprecedented incidents of arson and vandalism during the Gen-Z movement.

Preparations have been started to partially operate the service delivered from the government agencies. After a cleanup, the offices are preparing to resume the public service delivery, said Kaski Chief District Officer Rudra Devi Sharma.

Informing that a meeting of the heads of offices in the district will be held today to decide further about bringing public service delivery into the normal condition, Sharma said.

Around 80 offices, including the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers in Pokhara, which is also the capital of Gandaki Province, the Gandaki Province Assembly, District Administration Office, District Police Office, and other offices were vandalized and set ablaze during the movement.

With the lifting of the curfew and prohibitory order imposed in view of the security situation in the past few days, businesses and public transport in Pokhara have started operating as usual from Saturday.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway to reopen educational institutions.

As per the decision of the Pokhara Municipal Corporation Executive Committee meeting held on Saturday it has been decided to bring all schools in the metropolis into operation from September 17, shared Hem Prasad Acharya, Director of the Metropolis Education Division.

Two women were found dead at the Lakeside-based Anshuverma building and Naya Bazaar-based auto showroom in Pokhara.

The Gen Z protesters had set fire to both the buildings during the demonstrations in Pokhara on Tuesday.

Anshuverma Group belongs to the son of Social Development, Youth and Sports minister of Gandaki while the minister's brother owned the Naya Bazaar-based showroom.

They were reportedly burned inside when protesters set fire to the buildings.

Nepal Army has reached the incident sites.

The identities of the deceased are yet to be established.

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An indefinite curfew has been imposed in Pokhara after the Gen Z protest turned violent.

Chief District Officer of Kaski Rudra Devi Sharma has issued a curfew order from 2 pm today until further notice.

During the implementation of the curfew order, no movement, gathering, demonstration, rally, meeting or picketing has been allowed in the specified areas.

The curfew has been clamped from east of Shahid Chowk to Y Chowk, north-east of Milan Chowk, West of Fishtail Gate, north of Land Revenue Office, and south of Rastra Bank Chowk.

Currently, more than two dozen donor-funded projects are either running or in preparation across Pokhara. Most are in the stage of detailed project reports (DPRs) and feasibility studies, signaling new prospects for tourism, road access, building codes, and sanitation in the valley. According to Pokhara Metropolitan City, donor agencies have committed a total of Rs 39bn, which is five times higher than the city’s annual budget allocation.

Among the donors, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) leads in investment. It recently completed the Pokhara Drinking Water Purification Project at a cost of Rs 5.5bn and is finalizing agreements for the Wastewater Purification Project, valued at Rs 11bn. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is implementing the Sustainable Tourism Development Project (Rs 7.5bn) and an E-Mobility Project (Rs 5bn). The World Bank is supporting the Taalchok–Begnas, Sishuwa–Shishaghat, and Baghmara–Puditaar road construction projects (Rs 3.25bn). Meanwhile, the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and UNDP are backing the Green Employment Generation Project, together contributing Rs 2.15bn.

“Most of these projects have already signed agreements and are in progress, while a few remain in the contract process,” said Moti Raj Timilsina, spokesperson of Pokhara Metropolitan City. He also expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for its support in completing the Pokhara International Airport and the Muglin–Pokhara Road Project.

Local development activists in Pokhara often emphasize that donors have consistently shaped the city’s growth. According to Ashok Palikhey, senior social and development activist and founding chair of the Pokhara City Development Committee, today’s development initiatives are built on the foundations laid by earlier donor contributions.

The story of donor-supported development in Pokhara began in the 1960s, when the Indian Cooperation Mission constructed the Check Dam in Fewa Lake, installing 18 gates of 20 square feet each to conserve the lake. India also contributed by building the Indian Soldiers’ Board, settling camps in Rambajar, and helping establish the Regional Health Science Academy. “Had the donors not extended their helping hand, we might never have realized the core value of Pokhara’s potential,” recalls Krishna Thapa, former mayor of Pokhara in the late 1990s.

Following India, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) played a pivotal role by setting up Akashbani (telecommunications) in Ranipouwa, the foundation of Pokhara’s modern telecom system. USAID also established Rastriya Madhyamik Vidyalaya in Purano Tundikhel, the first community school in Kaski, initiated forestry education by founding the Forestry Campus in Hariyokharka, and launched the Agricultural Training Center (Krishi Bagbani) in Malepatan.

In the early 1990s, a Chinese company built the Seti River Powerhouse and associated drainage systems. Around the same time, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) began supporting Pokhara, helping establish the Pokhara City Development Committee and other key infrastructures. The World Bank contributed by setting up the Engineering College in Lamachaur, while the United Mission to Nepal (UMN), a European consortium, founded Gandaki Boarding School, known for quality education.

Since the late 1990s, JICA has remained deeply engaged in Pokhara, supporting lake conservation projects and establishing a Fishery Research Center in Begnas.

The construction of a state-of-the-art aviation fuel depot has been completed at Pokhara Regional International Airport. Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) undertook the project, which marks a milestone as the first aviation fuel depot built entirely with indigenous skills and capital in the corporation’s 55-year history, according to Project Chief Engineer Pradeep Kumar Yadav.

Construction began on 17 July 2023, and has been completed within the stipulated two-year timeframe. The depot is expected to be officially inaugurated in July. Covering 9,215 square meters within the airport premises, the depot was established under a five-year lease agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority, with provisions for renewal. Although the initial tender for the project was invited on 15 March 2021, in line with the Public Procurement Act, delays led to the contract being awarded only on 15 Nov 2022, to the lowest bidder. Subsequently, the land lease agreement was signed on 1 Jan 2023.

The depot includes three large vertical storage tanks, each with a capacity of 1,200 kiloliters, totaling 3,600 kiloliters of aviation fuel. Each tank stands 12 meters high and has a diameter of 12 meters. The facility is equipped with two 230-horsepower diesel fire-fighting pumps, a 15-horsepower jockey pump, and an 8-inch pipeline for fire suppression.

A dedicated 1,200-kiloliter water tank has also been constructed to enhance safety, directly connected to the fire-fighting infrastructure. Additionally, a 4,000-liter foam storage tank, integrated with the fire-fighting system, provides further protection by releasing foam alongside water during emergencies to quickly suppress fires.

The depot is equipped with micron filters (1 and 5 microns) for loading and unloading operations and uses API-standard storage tanks and iron piping to maintain safety and quality. Fuel is transferred from tankers to the storage tanks via a specialized aviation fuel pipeline system. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 750m (excluding VAT).

As new hotel buildings crop up around Phewa Lake in Pokhara, the old ones are literally being overshadowed. Ask Govinda Bahadur Pahari, a long-time hotelier, whose clients can no longer enjoy the lake’s view, thanks to the new hotel building that towers over his. 

“There was a time when you could see the lake, the surrounding hills and mountains from the windows and balconies of my hotel. The view drew a lot of guests. Now it’s all gone.” 

As the latest building regulation enforced by the local government bars old buildings from adding new storeys, Pahari is in a bind.      

“The local government charges a huge sum to issue a permit for adding a new storey. We simply can’t afford it.”  

Rajendra Dhakal, another hotelier, was slapped with a huge bill when he decided to add new storeys to his hotel building. He coughed up the money to be able to compete in the hotel business that is attracting lots of investors with money to spend. Dhakal plans to apply for a bank loan to add new storeys to his hotel.   

Folks like Pahari and Dhakal fear they will be put out of business by new investors looking to build towering hotels around Pokhara’s Lakeside. 

“We are still recovering from the effects of Covid pandemic, and now we have a new problem,” says Dhakal. 

According to the Pokhara chapter of Hotel Association of Nepal, more than 80 percent of hotel owners in the Lakeside area have bank loans that they took to renovate and expand their business in anticipation of the ‘Visit Nepal 2020’ campaign. 

Laxman Subedi, Pokhara chair of the association, says the pandemic not only ruined the ‘Visit Nepal’ campaign, it also dealt a economic blow to the local hotel owners. 

Chakra Subedi, who runs a hotel at Lakeside, says with most hoteliers already burdened by bank loans, they have no option but to endure silently or quit. “The new building regulations are not doing any favors to old hoteliers.”
After spending decades in the hotel business, Santosh Pokhrel has decided to leave the profession for good. “The competition is no longer fair, and the local government does not care.”

Pokhara, a city celebrated for its shimmering lakes and natural beauty, needs saving from rampant environmental degradation. Pollution has been escalating at an alarming rate, severely impacting the indigenous communities whose livelihoods depend on the lake water. Despite their tireless efforts, a sustainable solution remains elusive, highlighting the urgent need for action to conserve the lakes.

Shobha Shrestha, a resident of Damside on the eastern shore of Fewa Lake, recalls the time when the lake’s crystal-clear waters rippled gently, filling her with a sense of calm. “You could drink the lake water without any worry,” she says. “You can do that now because of pollution.” 

Shanti Pahari, a resident of Khahare, shares similar sentiments. She leads a local women’s group that has been actively involved in the Fewa cleaning effort.“The pollution never stops, no matter how often we clean the lake,” she says. “The lake is turning into a sewage dumping site.”

Lake pollution has also hit the local fishing communities. Mina Jalari, who belongs to a fishing community of Khapaudi, says their daily catch has significantly declined over the years. Just a decade ago she used to catch up to 30 kg of fish in a day. “These days, you are lucky if you catch 5 kg of fish. Our traditional occupation is at risk,” says Jalari.

Deforestation of Panchase Forest, which serves as an important lifeline for Fewa, has also contributed to disrupting the lake’s ecosystem. “Illegal logging, poaching, and wildfires have become common,” says Durga Bahadur Ghale, who is part of a local anti-poaching unit. “Our mission is to protect the forest because it is home to many plant and animal species and plays a key role in maintaining Fewa’s ecological balance.”

Rupa Lake, once famous for its abundant lotus flowers, has also seen a drastic decline in its aquatic flora in recent years.“Lotus plants thrived along the shores just a decade ago, but now they are found in only small patches,” says Ganga Gurung, who presides over Rupa Women’s Group. The loss is ecological and cultural. Locals have been using lotus flowers and plants for traditional remedies. Now, such practices are fading.

The Rupa Restoration and Fisheries Development Cooperative has been working to conserve biodiversity while supporting local livelihoods. However, over the past five years, environmental challenges have taken a heavy toll.

Last year, the cooperative earned Rs 15m from fish sales, but this year, losses have climbed to Rs 4m. Shivraj Adhikari, president of the cooperative, notes that without any revenue, they will be unable to fund projects like pesticide-free farming, women’s economic empowerment, and watershed conservation.“We have dedicated our lives to preserving this lake, but the outcomes are not so promising these days,” he says.

The plight of Pokhara’s lakes reflects a broader environmental emergency—one that threatens not only the natural landscape but also the people whose lives depend on it.

According to a 2020 report by the Gandaki Provincial Government and Pokhara Metropolitan City, Fewa covers 5.7 square kilometers (11,000 ropanis) and has an average depth of 8.4 meters. However, a 1998 survey by the Survey of India recorded Fewa’s area at 22,000 ropanis—double its current size.

Despite continuous cleanup efforts by locals and environmental groups, pollution and encroachment in Fewa continue unabated. 

“I have seen the lake shrink over the years. The areas that were once underwater are now above ground level,” says Khagendra Gurung, a local man.

Unrecognized community sacrifices 

Around 20 years ago, 200 families gave up their farmlands to conserve Maidi Lake, a wetland habitat known for its ducks and herons. The construction of a check dam overflowed the lake, submerging their fields. However, they have yet to receive any compensation. Instead, invasive weeds have proliferated, affecting the lake’s ecosystem. 

“Unwanted weeds have taken over the lake and very little has been done to conserve the wetland,” says Kriti Ballabh Tripathi, who surrendered 14 ropanis of his land for the wetland conservation program. He regrets giving his farmland for which he hasn't been compensated yet. 

In Dipang Lake, locals faced a similar crisis when invasive weeds took over the water. Their call for help went unanswered, so they formed a lake conservation committee and launched a campaign to remove the weeds from the lake. Their campaign lasted for nearly five years, during which they raised around Rs 50m with the help of local individuals, organizations, and institutions to clear the weeds. 

“We transformed Dipang from a mere pond into a proper lake, but since then, continuing conservation efforts has not been easy,” says Ramji Lamichhane, founding chair of the committee.

Despite their tireless efforts to protect the surrounding wildlife and vegetation, he says no governmental or private entity has shown interest in supporting their conservation efforts.

In Begnas Lake, the local Jalari (fishing) community dedicates one day per week to voluntary labor cleaning the lake. They have also formed a committee for forest and wildlife conservation. But their efforts have gone unrecognized.

In Rupa Lake, plummeting fish stocks have prompted the locals to appeal to all three levels of government for help. But they haven’t received any proper response. “It pains us that even the local government has failed to take an interest in solving our problems,” says Adhikari, the president of Rupa Restoration and Fisheries Development Cooperative. 

Even when programs related to lake conservation are implemented, the local government fails to involve the locals. The Fewa Damside Community Development Organizations has been organizing lake clean-up and tree plantation campaigns for decades now, but its members say they have received little to no support from their local government.

Shrinking lake

Environmental experts estimate that 14,200 tons of silt accumulate in Fewa Lake annually. Rapid spread of water hyacinth in Pokhara’s lakes is clear evidence of pollution. As waste accumulates in the lakes, essential nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus increase significantly, disrupting the wetland ecosystem. The excessive presence of these nutrients leads to a decrease in plankton, which is crucial for the aquatic ecosystem. 

A study conducted in 2023 by the Journal of the Nepal Chemical Society found that the average phosphate level in Pokhara’s lakes is 0.0036, while the nitrate level is 27.156—both exceeding the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“As nitrogen and phosphorus levels rise, the growth of invasive water hyacinth also accelerates, causing an imbalance in the lake’s ecosystem,” says environmentalist Anil Suvedi. 

Water hyacinth reproduces at an alarming rate, doubling in number every week. From a single sapling, around 1,200 offspring can be produced within four months, and in one year, its biomass can reach 18,000 metric tons per hectare.

With a population of around 400,000, Pokhara’s main settlements are intersected by the Firke and Bulaundi rivers, which have turned into major carriers of urban sewage due to rapid urbanization. Carelessly discarded waste flows into these rivers through drains, eventually ending up in Fewa Lake. The use of pesticides in farming, along with chemical runoff, further contributes to the pollution of the lake’s surrounding environment.

Additionally, hotels and houses near the lake have built sewage outlets and septic tanks directly connected to the lake, further worsening the situation, according to environmentalists.

“Unplanned development projects conducted without proper environmental impact assessments have also led to soil erosion, increasing sediment deposition in the lake and affecting both its size and ecological balance,” says Suvedi.

Campaign by civil society

The civil society of Pokhara organizes at least two annual lake clean-up events, during which they remove a minimum of 30 truckloads of water hyacinth and plastic waste from Fewa Lake alone. 

“Yet, the pollution in the lake has not decreased,” says Narendra Man Lalchan, president of Civil Society Kaski. “People still need to understand that polluting the lake directly impacts the entire ecosystem surrounding it.”

A few years ago, this civil society launched a grand campaign for environmental protection. Under this initiative, hundreds of social organizations and groups in Pokhara joined hands to address the problems of wetland areas. Over 1,200 social organizations—including women's groups, community development organizations, various professional associations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, the army, and the police—are involved in this campaign. 

Pokhara Metropolitan City consists of 33 wards. Each fiscal year, the Metropolitan Executive Council approves and allocates budgets for an average of 70 plans (programs) from each ward. However, many wards do not include environmental conservation programs. In the current fiscal year, approximately 2,500 programs have been included in Pokhara Metropolitan City’s ‘Red Book–Plan and Budget Allocation Document’. Among them, only 56 programs—just 2.24 percent—are related to environmental conservation.

Under the environmental promotion program for the current fiscal year, Pokhara Metropolitan City has allocated a budget of Rs 583m for 13 programs. Additionally, under tourism and cultural promotion, around Rs 200m has been allocated for five programs related to environmental beautification. This accounts for only about 1.5 percent of the total budget.

As of mid-February, no contracts for these programs have been awarded, and the tender process has not yet begun. The Urban Development, Tourism, and Environment Division of Pokhara Metropolitan City stated that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for about 20 percent of these programs is still in progress.

According to Division Chief Bimal Ranjan Karki, the lack of skilled technical personnel and experienced contractors has hindered the implementation of several programs despite the intent to execute them. Since the last fiscal year, the metropolitan city has assigned projects worth less than Rs 5m to consumer committees, while larger projects are handled by contractors.

The Hotel Association of Pokhara has organized the Phewa Festival from today. The tourism festival organized on the eve of the Nepali New Year 2082 BS will run till April 14.

The hotels in Pokhara are offering 20 percent discount to the tourists visiting the Lake City as part of the 20th Phewa New Year Festival-2082. 

Association President and Festival Coordinator Laxman Subedi said that the Bisket Jatra of Bhaktapur will be a special attraction in the Festival this time. The Bisket Jatra is a typical traditional cultural festival mostly celebrated in the ancient Newar town of Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley.

The Phewa Festival will showcase the original culture of 11 districts of Gandaki Province. Musical programmes including the performance of the typical 'bhajans' and 'ratyauli' are also included in the festival. 

Entry to the festival will be free and the event will be held on the three-kilometre road from Khaharechowk to Damsite in Pokhara.

Tourism, culture and food will be the main attraction of the festival, according to the organizers. The festival will feature the province-level indigenous and traditional cuisine, presentation of cultural programmes, recreational sports programs  and tourist race competitions. The Badminton Cup is a new attraction this time.

Nepal Tourism Board Gandaki Province and Pokhara Metropolitan City are the promoters of the festival.

At present, the occupancy of tourists in Pokhara hotels is 60 percent and it is expected to reach 90 percent on the occasion of the Festival, said Subedi.

The commercial charter flight has been operated from Pokhara International Airport to Chengdu in Sichuan Province of China for the first time.

Two years after the inauguration of the airport, the first commercial charter flight took place from Pokhara to Chengdu on Tuesday.

The first-ever Pokhara-Chengdu commercial flight was operated under the leadership of Pokhara Tourism Council in collaboration with Pokhara Metropolitan City, Chinese Embassy in Nepal, Sichuan Airlines and Chinese Association in Nepal.

It may be noted that it was materialized after continuous efforts from different fronts, including the private sector for international flights from the Pokhara International Airport.

Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya, Pokhara Tourism Council Chair Taranath Pahari, Nepal Tourism Board Gandaki Province Chief Maniraj Lamichhane, Pokhara Visit Year-2025 Performance Committee Coordinator Gopi Bahadur Bhattarai and a 126-member team of tourism entrepreneurs and media persons have come to Chengdu to promote tourism.

Nepali Consul General to China Suresh Raut, high-ranking officials of Sichuan Province and representatives of Sichuan Airlines, among others, welcomed the Pokharel team at Chengdu Airport.

On the occasion, Mayor Acharya said that the first commercial charter flight has been made with the continuous efforts of the Metropolitan City, Pokhara Tourism Council at a time when international flights could not be operated from Pokhara International Airport. The Chinese Embassy also held discussions on 'B2B' between tourism entrepreneurs of the two countries regarding tourism development of Pokhara.

The Pokhara International Airport was inaugurated on January 1, 2023. 

The Muglin-Pokhara road section of Shuklagandaki Municipality-2 is to remain blocked for five days.

According to the Tanahun District Police Office, vehicular movement will remain disrupted from 8 am to 6 pm from today onward.

The decision was taken to ease the up-gradation of the road from Jamuna Bazaar to Setipul in Kaski.

The office has also urged transport entrepreneurs and passengers to use alternative routes.

The construction of the Pokhara Water Supply Improvement Project, initiated in 2019 to provide mineral water-quality drinking water to Pokhara households, has been completed.

The project, funded with a grant of Rs 4.81bn from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was officially handed over on Friday. JICA and the Government of Nepal signed the grant agreement for the project on 15 Feb 2017, with construction beginning in 2019.

Japan’s Hazama Ando Corporation was entrusted with the project’s construction. Although work was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the initial deadline of 31 Dec 2023, was extended to Aug 31. With the project’s completion, 41m liters of water collected daily from the Mardi River in Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality are now processed through a state-of-the-art treatment plant before distribution in Pokhara. Previously, 46m liters of untreated water were distributed daily from the same source. The project adjusted its output to match the original design specifications, resulting in a 5m-liter reduction in daily distribution.

Despite the availability of treated drinking water, Pokhara continues to face water shortages. The Drinking Water Corporation has connected 52,000 households to the system. According to Ashish Karki, head of the Pokhara branch of the Drinking Water Corporation, current production stands at 62m liters daily, including water sourced from boreholes.

However, the 19 wards of Pokhara Metropolitan City require 87m liters of water per day to meet the demands of the growing population. The project did not account for this population growth during its planning phase, leading to continued shortages.

At the inauguration ceremony on Friday, Water Minister Pradeep Yadav pledged to address the remaining water scarcity through additional measures. Mayor Dhana Raj Acharya of Pokhara Metropolitan City expressed satisfaction that, for the first time, the city now has a pure and safe drinking water treatment system. He also called for new plans to resolve the ongoing water shortages, assuring the metropolis’ support in this effort.

Currently, Pokhara’s water supply includes 3.5m liters daily in the rainy season and 1m liters in the dry season from Armalasthi Bhotikhola. Another 3.5m liters in the rainy season and 1.5m liters in the dry season are sourced from Kalimuda and Majkun Muhan, distributed via the Amalabisauni tank. Additionally, 1m liters are distributed from Baldhara. Water is also extracted from 21 boreholes across the city, with a total of 62m liters supplied daily.

To address the shortages, the Drinking Water Corporation is in the process of contracting work to bring additional water from the Mardi River through a 500-mm pipeline. However, it appears residents of Pokhara will need to wait a few more years for uninterrupted, 24-hour access to clean drinking water.

The District Administration Office Kaski has informed that the prohibitory order continues in the areas around Shahid Chowk and Gairapatan of Pokhara Metropolitan City today as well.

The local administration issued a prohibition order after demonstrations started in favor of and against Rabi Lamichhane, the President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), who was arrested in a case of misappropriation of the cooperative's savings.

Chief District Officer Bharatmani Pandey issued a notice regarding the prohibition order today, to be effective in Waichowk on the east side of Shahid Chowk, the Fishtail Gate on the west side, the Land Revenue Office to the north, and Mustang Chowk on the south side, in addition to the road area from Palikhechowk to Navin Secondary School in Gairapatan, where gathering and protesting by more than five people has been restricted.

President Lamichhane was arrested from Kathmandu on Friday and transferred to Pokhara on Saturday morning on the charge of his involvement in embezzlement of funds of Suryadarshan Cooperative of Pokhara. The Kaski District Police Office said that they are preparing to present him before the court today.