Preparation of soil to increase the depth of Fewatal

Pokhara,

The depth of the fewatal will be increased by extracting soil by taking the opportunity of reduced water level. Currently, the water level of the lake has been lowered to maintain the dam. Preparations have been made to remove the soil to increase the depth of the fewatal from Monday on the occasion of declining water.

After lowering the water level of Fewatal for the maintenance of the dam, voices were raised from the citizen level to increase the depth of Fewatal.

At the same time, a meeting of stakeholders including Gandaki State Government, Pokhara Metropolitan City, Fewatal Charkilla Determination, Demarcation and Mapping Committee, Irrigation Division Office has decided to remove the accumulated soil in the lake.

Ram Kaji Shrestha, coordinator of the soil management committee, informed that the soil, stones, ballast and sand collected in the fewatal will now be taken out.

He said that the extraction of stones and soil collected in the lake will start from Sunday but it will start from Monday due to lack of preparation.

Preparations have been made to extract 15,000 cubic meters of soil from the Fewatal. Soil will be extracted from Firkekhola, Harpankhola, Kharekhola and other areas considered to be the headwaters of Fewatal.

Preparations have been made to remove 6-7 meters of soil from the Fewatal. The place where the soil was piled up was 6-7 meters deep a few years ago. They are preparing to remove the soil to return to the previous condition. 

About Rs 1.5 crore is required to extract the soil. It would cost around Rs 2.5 million to use the excavator but it would cost around Rs 13.3 million. As the Fewatal is a sensitive area, it is not possible to use excavators everywhere, the cost will increase when there is an obligation not to use soil but to use human labour.

Although everyone has agreed to increase the depth of the lake, there has been a problem in getting the budget. As it is nearing the end of the fiscal year, the state government, Pokhara Metropolitan City, Irrigation Division Office or any other office has problems in getting the budget.

However, the Pokhara Municipal Corporation has promised a budget of Rs 5 million and the state government Rs 2.5 million. However, as no one is in a position to release the budget immediately, the source said that the budget will be given only by Budget money transfer.

The lake conservation and development authority is preparing to start the work from Rs 500,000 as there is no immediate budget. They are preparing to spend Rs 2 million from the fund in the name of Komagane Park in Fewatal area.

Apart from this, Rs 1.5 million from the Phewa Reservoir Area Conservation Fund will also be used to extract soil. Until then, the budget will be exchanged by the metropolitan and state governments.