Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City in Dang has launched a campaign to construct artificial lakes and ponds across the local unit to preserve the local ecology.

The sub-metropolis aims to conserve wetlands, increase greenery, provide irrigation facilities to local farmers, preserve the habitat of various species of wildlife and birds and promote tourism with the construction of the water bodies.

“A total of 22 ponds have been constructed in Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City so far. The ponds occupy around 33 bighas of land and have a capacity to store 2.2 million cubic metres of water,” said Ramdhan Shrestha, an engineer at the sub-metropolis. According to him, 3,500 families of local farmers have benefited from the initiative.

The artificial ponds have been constructed in Chepe, Balarampur, Dundra, Thanti, Jankholi, Jyamire, Gangate, Dhikpur, Katahari, Aarogya, Dabari, Gulariya, Belghari and Githepani areas of Ghorahi. These ponds are managed by the local people, who use these water bodies for irrigation and fish farming. Boats are also operated in the ponds in Chepe and Jyamire to attract tourists.

According to the local unit, it spent more than Rs 100 million on the construction and management of such ponds. “Efforts are underway to build more artificial ponds to preserve the wetlands,” said Shrestha.

Local residents say the construction of artificial ponds is necessary since the natural water bodies in the area are gradually drying up.

“In the past, we did not even have water to feed our cattle. Now, with the construction of artificial ponds, we have enough water to irrigate our farmland as well,” said Som Prasad Subedi, a local resident of Chepe. According to him, artificial ponds have been very helpful in preserving the local ecology. He even claimed that various birds, which were hardly seen in the past, recently visited the wetland.

As many as 22 lakes and ponds have been constructed in Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City in the past seven years.

“Rainwater is collected in the artificial ponds and lakes. Such wetlands have helped in the conservation of various bird and animal species,” said Mayor Narulal Chaudhary.

He said the sub-metropolitan city came up with the idea to construct artificial water bodies to minimise the impact of climate change and provide irrigation facilities to local farmers.

“Such lakes and ponds have multiple benefits. They help in the conservation of ecology and promote internal tourism as well,” Chaudhary said. “They even help in replenishing underground water.”