Works to remove mud from Rani Pokhari will be completed before monsoon, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has claimed.

The KMC had drained the historic pond last December and relocated fish to other ponds in the Valley. However, works to remove mud from the pond had been delayed due to issues related to study of soil, management of valuable items excavated from the pond and finalising of the pond’s depth.

KMC officials, however, claimed that all of those tasks would be carried out simultaneously under Rani Pokhari Conservation Project. “The KMC will invite tenders for this special project on Monday,” said Uttar Kumar Regmi, chief of the Department of Physical Development and Construction at the KMC 

There has been a widespread public concern over the status of the pond, which is now covered with weeds.

“We have already completed the study of soil in the pond at the depth of up to 15 meters,” Regmi said, assuring that we would starting removing the mud before monsoon. The metropolis is said to be planning to dig up to 4-5 feet deep in the pond to remove the mud which will be used to fill up the pits in and around the Valley. “A meeting on Sunday will decide on the relocation of mud removed from the pond,” said Ragmi.

The KMC is looking over the project to rebuild the Bal Gopaleshwor temple at the centre of the pond that was severely damaged by the devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015. Under the project, the pond is being cleaned for the first time since the complex was built by King Pratap Malla in 1670 to console his queen who was heartbroken following the death their son.

The KMC has planned to turn the historic pond spread over 63 ropanis of land into a recreational park, by decking it up with other amenities like water fountains, coffee shop.