Local resident Mohan Gaire said clean and beautiful until three years ago, the lake known as Kamalpokhari has now become so degradable and polluted that even boat service has come to a halt.

Gaire said waste materials from four buildings of the college, where hostels are being operated, are directly dumped to the lake as well. A local resident requesting anonymity said the college administration offers a job opportunity to anyone who raises voices against the matter.

Local people said the stinks emanating from the drain have polluted the environment and affected public health. Rajesh Kumar Aryal, chairman of the Federation of Nepali Journalists in the district, said they drew attention of the college administration towards managing the waste, but to no avail. “The college administration should

manage the waste to conserve the lake,” he said. Local people said due to pollution even tube well water is contaminated in the area. Nirdosh Khanal of the college claimed that they do not dump waste materials produced in the college at the lake. “We recycle polluted water in water processing centre,” he said.