KATHMANDU, Nov 22: The Supreme Court has ordered the government to fortify the shrinking Phewa Lake within six months.

The country's apex court today published the full text of the verdict of a writ petition filed by advocate Khagendra Subedi.  The lake's area had been continuously encroached by private landowners and hotels. Within a half-century, the lake's size had decreased from 10 sq. km. in 1960, receded to 4.2 sq km in 2007. (Read the full report here.) 

In turn, the Supreme Court has directed the government and the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to fortify the Phewa Lake within six months from the date of the order. On April 29, 2018, a division bench of justices Om Prakash Mishra and Sapana Pradhan Malla had ordered the government to annul illegal registration of Phewa Lake land as per the report of Bishwa Prakash Lamichhane-led commission's report. 

The published text of the verdict orders the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Land Revenue Office, Kaski and Survey Department to coordinate as per required in order to initiate an investigation to annul the properties in the lake's area within a year and step up measures to save the lake from further encroachment.

In addition, the Supreme Court has also ordered the government to demolish all the private properties built within 65 meters from the banks of Phewa Lake within six months.

 
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