POKHARA, June 2: The campaign to remove structures built along Pokhara’s Firke Khola has been completed. The week-long operation, launched on May 24 under the Firke Khola Restoration Campaign, targeted structures built within the river corridor or in violation of river setback standards.
According to Pokhara Metropolitan City, all 160 structures identified within the river corridor were demolished. The metropolis claims that all structures falling within 588 boundary markers installed after surveying the approximately eight-kilometer-long stream, which had been heavily encroached upon, have been removed.
However, although the metropolis says all structures have been demolished, many permanent structures have only been partially dismantled. A report prepared by the metropolis last year identified 45 permanent and 115 temporary structures within the river corridor. While temporary structures have been completely removed, most permanent buildings have only been partially demolished.
The metropolis used bulldozers on 18 permanent structures built directly within the river corridor and 35 others that violated setback standards, but many were left standing after partial demolition. Some property owners were allowed to complete the demolition themselves, while others were left untouched due to geographical and technical difficulties.
Purushottam Thapa, chief of the Security and Municipal Inspection Division of Pokhara Metropolitan City, said temporary structures had been completely removed while permanent structures were partially demolished.
“The campaign to remove structures along the Firke Khola has been completed,” Thapa said. “We fully removed temporary structures, and the remaining portions of partially demolished permanent structures will be removed by the property owners themselves.”
Among the structures partially demolished were buildings belonging to Little Step Secondary School, Lincoln College, and the residence of Gyan Bahadur Koirala. Bulldozers punctured sections of these buildings but did not completely raze them, raising concerns that future beautification and restoration efforts could be hindered.
Fewa Siltation Dam: Construction company to repair damaged part
Meanwhile, construction debris and soil displaced during demolition have been left scattered along the river corridor, increasing the risk of sediment flowing into Phewa Lake. Since Firke Khola ultimately drains into the lake, heavy rainfall could carry the debris directly into Phewa.
Firke Khola has already been transporting soil and waste into the lake for years, creating sediment islands. The newly generated debris could worsen the problem, according to Ram Bahadur Paudel, founding chairman of Citizens’ Society Pokhara.
“This has been a long-standing issue,” Paudel said. “If the debris from the demolished structures is not properly managed, the waste island formed by Firke Khola in Phewa Lake will certainly expand.”
Following public concern, Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya announced through social media that a temporary check dam would be constructed upstream of Phewa Lake to prevent soil and debris from reaching the lake.
Currently on a foreign visit, Acharya wrote that work had already begun to manage the soil and debris generated by the river restoration campaign.
“To ensure that the removed soil does not flow into Phewa Lake, construction of a temporary check dam at Gaighat will begin immediately,” he stated.
However, there appears to be little indication that the check dam will be built anytime soon. The metropolis has yet to begin preparations for the project.
Chief Administrative Officer Muktiram Aryal said he was unaware of the details of the proposed check dam. According to him, the decision had been made before he assumed office.
“Budget has been allocated for it,” Aryal said. “But I do not know when it will be built, where it will be built, or when construction will begin.”
Similarly, Bimal Karki, chief of the Urban Development and Tourism Division, said he was aware of the proposal but had no information on the construction schedule.
“This is not under my responsibility,” Karki said. “No detailed study has been conducted yet. A study is needed first to determine where soil and waste are likely to accumulate before selecting a suitable location.”
Shishir Aryal, an engineer at the Infrastructure Development Division of the metropolis, also said he had no information about the proposed temporary check dam. He noted that plans had previously been discussed to construct permanent check dams near Firkepul on the border of Wards 4 and 5, near the Chief Minister’s Office in Masbar of Ward 7, and at Gaighat in Ward 17.
“I do not know about a temporary check dam,” he said. “Perhaps another committee is handling that work.”
Paudel stressed that a temporary check dam should be constructed as soon as possible.
“It seems the demolition was carried out in haste without adequate preparation,” he said. “Restoring Firke Khola and removing illegal structures is a positive step, but the debris and soil generated by the demolitions must be managed immediately. Otherwise, they will be washed into Phewa Lake and contribute to further siltation.”
He argued that the check dam should have been built before demolition began and described the failure to do so as negligence.
“We have remained quiet because we do not want to discourage the campaign through unnecessary criticism,” he said. “But from what we see now, it appears largely cosmetic. We also have a question: When will the temporary check dam actually be built? We would like the mayor to tell us.”
Firke Khola originates in the former Gyarjati area, later Sarangkot VDC, and currently flows through Wards 18, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 6 and 17 of Pokhara Metropolitan City before emptying into Phewa Lake.
According to Basudev Paudel, coordinator of the Firke Khola River Corridor Survey Committee, the stream ranges from a minimum width of 3.30 meters to a maximum width of 40 meters. The depth of the river channel varies between four and nine meters.
