Shortage of water was seen in the lakes here lacking sufficient rainfall in the area. All the 12 lakes, which used to be full even in dry season, have gone dry this year, said local residents. The marine creatures including fish, snakes, crocodile, and tortoise have begun to die following the shortage of water in the lake.[break]
"We used to swim even in April/May but the lake does not have water even in this rainy season," said Jaya Bahadur Bista, an octogenarian.The river where the villagers enjoy swimming until last year turned dry in this summer season, said Rabindra Kunwar, Chairman of the Baijanath Community Forest.
The Barakunda is named as it comprises 12 lakes including Sitaram lake, Siddha Baijanath lake, Sun lake and others. They are situated at the foothill of the Chure hills, some five kilometers away from the Kanchanpur district headquarters, Bhimduttanagar Municipality, said Kunwar.
All the fishes in the two lakes at the renowned religious site Bishnu Saket Dham died when water dried up, whereas the Siddha Baijanath lake has been filled up with the river water brought through a 1,300-meter long water pipe, Kunwar added.
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