POKHARA, June 10: Stating that haphazard parking, tangled telecommunications and electricity wires, narrow roads, and stray cattle were taking toll on Lakeside area of Pokhara, stakeholders have called on the newly elected mayor of Pokhara-Lekhnath Metropolitan City to get rid of the problems and develop Lakeside as the happening destination in the metropolis.
Presenting their suggestions to Mayor Man Bahadur JC and Chairman of Pokhara Valley Town development Committee Sundar Kumar Shrestha through Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC), they said that tourism in the lake city would be if Lakeside area is left in its present state.
“As Lakeside area is a tourism hub in Kaski district, it should get special treatment.
Unmanaged parking and late night crowd, among others, have emerged as a big problem Similarly, the narrow road can no longer support two-way traffic,” the council stated in its suggestions: “Movement of heavy vehicles is further compounding our woes.”
Local tourism entrepreneurs have demanded that authorities concerned to allocate appropriate area for tourist bus park, build needful infrastructure for parking, blacktop all roads, and control pollution in the Fewa lake area.
They have also called upon the authorities to develop Pokhara as a green city, remove hording board, ban honking, rallies and other demonstrations in the Lakeside area.
The local entrepreneurs have urged the authorities to build sufficient public washrooms, prohibit movement of vehicles on Friday, and compel pubs and night clubs arrange sound insulation to reduce noise pollution.
“As Lakeside is a tourist area, it should be peaceful compared to other areas,” PTC Chairman Kedar Sharma said. “Tourists who come here anticipating peaceful environment should not be disturbed. Similarly, those, who enjoy late night walks, should feel secure enough to step out of their hotel.”
Listening to demands of tourism entrepreneurs, Mayor GC said the metropolis would develop Lakeside as a peaceful and secure zone for tourists. “We will immediately take needful initiatives in this direction,” he added.
Similarly, Chairman of Pokhara Valley Town Committee Shrestha said he was emotionally attached to the Lakeside. “Being a tourism entrepreneur, I know the importance of Lakeside for Pokhara's tourism industry. We will spare no effort to make Lakeside a happening place in the country,” he added.
Want to party till dawn? Lakeside is the place!
