Bookworm Foundation, the organiser of Nepal Literature Festival 2018 held in Pokhara, has been fined for trimming the branches of trees on the banks of Phewa Lake.

Jagat Bahadur Pahari, chairman of Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City (PLMC) Ward-6, said the organisers chopped the branches of 24 trees on the banks without taking permission. “They [organizer] said the branches were obstructing the scenery and chopped them down without permission from the authority,” said Pahari.

The chopped down trees are locally known as ‘Gaich’ and were planted to enhance the greenery around the lake. Civil society members had filed a complaint at Ward-6 office saying the chopping of tree branches degraded the beauty of the lake.

The organiser paid a fine of Rs 10,000 to PLMC Ward-6 for their act and have been warned not to repeat such actions in the future.

The literature festival held at the ground owned by Nepal Trust brought together people from different walks of life including litterateurs, writers, activists, artists, intellectuals, economists and political figures to converse on various issues. Organisers hoped the festival would not only promote literature but also tourism in Pokhara. This is the seven iteration of the festival.