National
Govt to conserve Rupa lake
The government has decided to conserve Rupa Lake, one of the several lakes in Pokhara Valley that has been threatened by encroachment.Lal Prasad Sharma
The government has decided to conserve Rupa Lake, one of the several lakes in Pokhara Valley that has been threatened by encroachment.
To that end, the government will form an Integrated Rupa Lake Conservation Development Project and allocate Rs 1 billion for the lake conservation. The decision was made by a Cabinet meeting held on November 27.
The area of Rupa Lake has shrunk to 107 hectares from 135 hectares over the years.
According to a survey conducted by the government nine years ago, the lake had lost around 800 ropanis of land to human encroachment.
Kul Prasad Adhikari, chairman of the Rupatal Resettlement and Pisciculture Cooperative Organisation, said they were pleased that the government was finally taking steps to conserve the lake.
In the first phase, the government will provide land compensation to the people whose properties are situated near the lake for dam construction.
According to Adhikari, the government has to provide land compensation for 190 ropanis of land in Rupakot VDC and 665 ropanis of land in Begnas and Mirchok VDCs.
Chief District Officer Hari Prasad Mainali said the project has been approved by the government and they are in the final stage of planning.
The lake will be expanded up to 174.4 hectares after dam construction. The government has to complete land acquisition process within eight months of the project commencement.
The authorities are going to open water sports, children park, zoo and other recreational areas in Rupatal area. They have also planned to develop the lake as “Wetland Environmental Studies Centre”. Around 450 species of plants and animals are found in the lake area.