Member of Province Assembly from Kaski, Rajiv Pahari has expressed his commitment to the conservation of Pokhara's iconic natural landmark – the Phewa Lake.
He said he would table a proposal in this connection in the first meeting of the Province Assembly itself.
Speaking in a press meet held here on Wednesday, he said that the Phewa Lake would be restored to its original state through the joint efforts of the local, provincial and federal governments as well as the stakeholders.
He said the natural lake is shrinking day-by-day due to human and natural encroachment. He proposed to construct a dam at Harpan Khola rivulet to prevent deposition of silt and soil in the lake which is a major problem. It is said the rivulet deposits 142,000 metric tonnes of soil and silt into the lake every year and the lake would cease to exist in 30 years if this problem was not addressed.
Pahari also stressed on a realistic demarcation of the lake's bank. He estimated the Phewa Lake conservation project would cost approximately Rs 600 billion.
The Province Assembly member insisted that the lake should be preserved and developed as a place of national pride.
