Pokhara, Apr. 22: Apart from other potential areas, the tourism sector could contribute considerably in transforming a beautiful country like Nepal into a prosperous one as well.
A number of world famous mountain ranges, glaciers, conserved forests, natural lakes, sanctuaries, art and culture and religious harmony are assets of Nepal that can attract people from all over the world and boost the tourism industry of the country.
What many countries of the world have done for luring domestic as well as foreign tourists is the creation of artificial lakes and ponds to supplement the natural beauty of the country. In Nepal also, a number of lakes and ponds such as Dhanushasagar, Gangasagar, Birasatsagar, Ranipokhari and Gopal Garden have been created in Dhanusha, Kathmandu and Morang districts.
Nepal is endowed with a large number of natural lakes, but lacks proper care, domestic tourists say.
Lakes like Rara, Phewa, Begnas and Rupa are quite well known within and outside the country. But the biggest, lake Rara, has not yielded returns to the desired extent due to lack of promotional activities. A need has been felt for tourism entrepreneurs to give special consideration to this.
The excessive use of Phewa, a lake in Kaski district well known for its astounding scenery, by tourism entrepreneurs, discharge of the town’s sewerage and rivers which carry sand and soil into it have placed the lake under threat. All these issues are being brought up by the media from time to time.
Taking all these facts into consideration, work on tracing the boundary of the lake has been initiated through the joint efforts of local bodies and HMG as per directives issued by Kaski district council to the DDC board.
Commencement of boundary demarcation of the lake extending over at least 8.5 sq. Km. To be completed in the coming two months is considered an appreciable measure.
According to Pokhara Sub-municipal Corporation, the Royal Palace, the iucn World Conservation Organisation and the district Chamber of Commerce and Industry have provided generous grants which have exceeded Rs. 600,000 so far.
Powers have been delegated to local bodies under the local autonomy act for the conservation of natural and historical properties lying within their area.
To translate these powers into action, the process of handing over such properties which fall under the act to the relevent institutions, bodies and groups has already begun in order to help local bodies in the use of local means and resources for tourism promotion and economic advancement.
Lekhnath Municipality in Kaski district is the only municipality among the 58 sub-municipalities and municipalities across the country to have seven lakes. These are Begnas, Rupa, Dipang, Maidee, Khaste, Nyureni and Gunde.
Dipang, Khaste, Nyureni and Gunde have been leased to private parties pursuant to provisions of the act under which local bodies can lease out such properties.
Dipang lake has been transferred on lease for the coming 20 years to Dipang Agro-Tourism Pvt. Ltd. run by a group of persons including gopal Prasad Sharma of Pokhara under the stipulation that the firm spend a total of Rs. 5,154,800 within the coming 10 years for the protection of the lake.
The firm has to set up a line of facilities including fisheries, a jogging trail, a swimming pool, a mini-resort, a restaurant and bar, picnic spots and a bird sanctuary.
Over the lease period, it will pay the municipality a rent amount of Rs. 32,000 for the first quarter, Rs. 65,000 for the second quarter, Rs. 455,000 for the third quarter and Rs. 519,000 for the fourth quarter.
Similarly, nyureni lake has been handed over to Swatisadan Secondary Highschool at Banseswar, Kathmandu on a 20-year lease. It will make an outlay of Rs. 1,463,000 over the leased period on a house boat, fisheries and a duck farm.
It will have to pay the municipality rent of Rs. 5.000, Rs. 10,000, Rs 70,000 and Rs. 80,000 in the first, second, third and fourth quarters respectively over the lease period.
The municipality also handed over Khaste lake to Khaste Pvt. Ltd. for running fisheries and a duck farm for the coming 10 years. The lease period can be extended as per demand.
Khaste will pay the rent amount in two instalments over the lease period, Rs. 35,000 for the first half and Rs. 44,000 for the second half.
Likewise, it has transferred Gunde lake to Gunde Fisheries and Tourism Pvt. Ltd. on a lease of 20 years.
Gunde Fisheries and tourism will pay rent amounts of Rs. 12,000, Rs. 24,000, Rs. 167,000 and Rs. 191,000 in the first, second, third and fourth quarters respectively for use of the lake and its peripheral land area.
The lakes were leased to make such places productive, conserve them and launch promotion activities in view of the lack of resources, the threat of encroachment and diminution of the original structures, mayor of the municipality Shaligram Poudel said.
The municipality stretches over a 75.93 Sq. km area at altitudes of between 490 to 1,217 meters above sea level.
Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Agricultural Research Council and the Fisheries Development Board will extend cooperation to the private parties who hold the lease.
The city dwellers of Pokhara have pointed out that the use of natural resources will not bear fruit to the nation if the facilities are not made available to domestic as well as foreign tourists who come here to savour such natural beauty.
A number of factors such as the sources of income of local bodies, the environment and the interest of investors as well as local people should be taken into account while leasing productive tourism spots identified through study and research, Nepali Congress Kaski district secretary Yagya Bahadur Thapa opines.
Beganas, Rupa and Maidee can be handed over to private parties if they show interest, it is pointed out.
Kaski DDC President Punya Prasad Poudel is of the opinion that all the big lakes such as Phewa and Begnas should be under the protection of the local bodies.
Kamal Lake, one of seven lakes in Kaski district, is to be traced its boundary and conserved its original quality, he says.
“Jhilmila Lake” situated at the boundary of Dadeldhura and Kanchanpur districts can be developed as a natural habitat for the “Magura” fish and tourists attracted if it is conserved and means of transport and publicity arranged.
Strolling along the edge of the lake one can dip a bucket in the water and scoop up at least five fish at a time.
Fishing the Magura, a rare species with long tentacles in the front part of the body, has been prohibited in the lake surrounded by forests and with a temple a long side.