But there's a ray of hope in the form of a Korean couple who have made it their mission to keep the lake and its surroundings clean. Daniel and his wife Jemma, visited Nepal for the first time in 2006, fell in love with the country, and now live and work in Pokhara.
"I came to Nepal to climb Mt. Everest. I made a few attempts to scale the mighty Everest. While climbing the mountain, I saw trash strewn everywhere. An idea came to mind and I decided almost instantaneously to spend the rest of my life cleaning places of interest in Nepal" said Daniel.
Daniel has established a project that he calls Green Clean Pokhara Movement (GCPM). However, he spent several years cleaning different areas around Mt. Everest, Khumbu, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Kathmandu before establishing GCPM.
According to Daniel, the places that people visit most are usually littered with trash as they tend to throw plastic wrappers and other disposable items everywhere they like. "I felt bad seeing trash everywhere. There were beautiful places lined with filth. It was heartbreaking. That was why I decided to clean up these places" said Daniel.
People assume that Daniel is rich Korean who gets lots of funds to indulge in his 'cause' from abroad. But they couldn't be further away from the truth. What makes Daniel and Jemma different from the rest of us is their commitment and willpower to be focused on their mission. When Daniel came to the decision to clean places of interest in Nepal, money was the last thing on his mind.
"Frankly speaking, when I first thought about cleaning different places in Nepal, I had very little money. But I wanted to do it. I have used every single penny that my wife and I had. Now, I don't have a house, bank balance or any property. Despite that we have been working continuously. It has been possible because of friends, well wishers and some volunteers. I'm grateful of those volunteers who are working with us," said Daniel adding that the children of Himalayan Children Care Home and the students of St Francis School have been volunteering regularly.
"It is due to lack of awareness that most Nepalis pay least attention to cleanliness. They keep their houses clean and think their job is done. However, I have also met some good people who have helped me in my efforts. There was a government officer who spent quite a bit of his own money to clean an area. Nepal Armed Police Force also deserves some credit as they have been helping every now and then, "said Daniel.
Daniel was a priest at a Roman Catholic Church in Korea from 1976-1985. When he left his job as priest, he went back to his birthplace in Seoul and started a coffee shop. Later he sold his coffee house and used all the money to fund his project in Nepal.
On a personal note, Daniel says he could not have done any of it without Jemma's support. "Even as a kid, I wanted to help people and make a difference. I would not have been able to do that without my wife's help. She's been a rock who has stood by my side despite all odds," said Daniel who got married to Jemma in 1985.
Working alongside her husband, Jemma too has her own views on keeping the environment clean. She is of the belief that unless and until the government and public join hands and make a commitment to keep the environment clean, it's impossible to maintain hygiene and order for a long time.
"How can you keep places clean when people regularly throw rubbish wherever they like? It has happened so many times that I have lost count. We would thoroughly clean some areas but after a while it would end up being dirtier than ever. This indicates that people in general are not aware about their duties and responsibilities," said Jemma, explaining that people want to get rid of filth from their homes but don't care much about the surrounding areas. "We need to change this attitude and only then will it be possible to keep public places clean," she added.
We would all do well if we learnt a lesson or two from this Korean couple who have taken it upon themselves to clean the place they live in one area at a time. Wouldn't our country be a better, cleaner place if we all not just cleaned our homes but stepped outside and swept the streets as well?
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