Journalists injured as mayor tries to operate dozer

POKHARA, June 15: The newly-elected representatives of Pokhara Lekhnatah Metropolitan City have expedited the work for a foot track on the banks of the local Firke River.

In recent days, the river had started shrinking because of its banks being encroached upon. Many structures have been built on the sides of the river. Six months ago, a dozer was used to demolish structures built by encroaching upon the river. While some structures were demolished, some were left with a warning.

The metropolis started the work for the foot track after the criteria for the riverbanks was fixed. "Building a foot track is the best option to control river encroachment," said Dhan Bahadur Nepali, ward chief of Pokhara Lekhnatah Metropolis-5, adding," This track will be constructed on the sides of the river." The metropolis also expects that this foot track will help control pollution in the river.

Firke River Environment Conservation and Road Construction Consumers Committee kicked off the construction of the track from the eastern side of the concrete bridge of the river on Friday. This foot track will be two-meter wide on both sides of the river. Ward chief Nepali said that a budget of Rs 3 million has been sanctioned for the first level construction of the track.

"At first we will be leveling the land with the help of a dozer," informed ward Chief Nepali. In the first level, only 600 meter land will be used for the foot track. As per the speculations of the representatives, a total budget of Rs 18.1 million will be required for the construction of 600 meters long track. "We will start the work for additional 600 meters from next fiscal year,"

Journalists, locals injured

Man Bahadur GC, mayor of the metropolis, inaugurated the construction of the foot track by operating a dozer on his own. Journalists and locals got injured after falling into the river while preparing to click the pictures of the mayor. They were actually leaning against a railing of Parsyang Bridge when Mayor GC accidentally drove into the railing. Two journalists along with three locals fell some 20 meters down into the river along with the railing. Journalists Ranjan Adhikari and Sandesh Shrestha have sustained minor injuries. Gauri Poudel, a local, too has been injured.

Caption: Journalists and locals being rescued from the river after the railing they were leaning against got hit by the dozer driven by the Mayor of Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City Man Bahadur GC.

 
• foot
 
• track
 
• built
 
• banks
 
• firke
 
• river