Floodwaters and massive landslides last August in Kaskikot, Bhadaure Tamagi and Dhikur Pokhari brought boulders, mud and logs rolling down into the lake, filling up its shallower parts. With this, the already diminishing area of the lake is expected to shrink further."A large area of the lake has been buried by debris this year alone. We don't yet know what quantity of debris has been deposited by this year's flooding and landslides," said Mahendra Bahadur Godar, chief engineer of the department of Phewa lake conservation and management within the Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City Office. "But we have assigned technicians to assess the condition. They will began work within a few days," he informed.
The deteriorating condition of the lake has left tourism entrepreneurs of Kaski district deeply concerned.
Around 142,000 metric tons of debris is deposited in the lake every year, informed Godar citing estimates. This year, landslide from 42 ropani of forest area near the source of the lake fell into the water, so the siltation as accelerated, according to Godar.
"The lake is shrinking every year. A study has suggested that the lake wouldn't last for 100 years, if siltation continues in this manner," added Godar.
Two years ago, the municipality had hired a consultant to search for a solution to the siltation problem. The consultant had submitted a report suggesting building a dam in the lake's source. The cost of the dam, according to the report, would be around Rs 210 million. However, the municipality has allocated just Rs 4.5 million this year for the project. If four to five dams are built in the Harpan River, then the process of sand and stones mixing into the lake could be prevented.
"If we are to invest only 4.5 million for the project each year, it will take years to complete the project. Swift action should be taken at earliest," said Godar.
According to Krishna Jalarai, a local, logs in large numbers were extracted from the lake after the demand of firewood soard recently due to the Indian blockade.
Gopi Bahadur Bhattarai, the chairman of Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal (REBAN), urged everyone to work with commitment to save the lake and Pokhara's tourism. "Pokhara will cease to exist if Phewa Lake disappears. Initiatives to save the lake should be taken from the local as well as the government levels," he added.
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