POKHARA, May 24: Pokhara Metropolitan City has begun demolishing structures built illegally along the Firke stream after years of controversy over river encroachment.
The demolition drive started Sunday morning from three locations — Andherikuna at the border of wards 2 and 18, Firke Bridge near Budhanilkantha Temple between wards 4 and 5, and the Firke stream bridge area at Zero Kilometer between wards 7 and 8.
The metropolis deployed more than 10 bulldozers after the expiry of its latest 72-hour ultimatum issued to occupants of illegal structures. The campaign formally began by tearing down a Lions Club building constructed on encroached land near Zero Kilometer in wards 7 and 8, in the presence of Mayor Dhanraj Acharya.
Revised interest rate corridor system introduced
Mayor Acharya said the campaign marks the beginning of a broader effort to remove encroachments and protect public property across Pokhara. “This is just the beginning. The campaign will continue to safeguard all public land,” he said.
According to a survey conducted by the metropolitan city, 160 structures were found violating the stream’s boundary standards, including 45 permanent and 115 temporary structures. Among them, 18 permanent and 10 temporary structures were built directly over the stream.
The metropolis has installed 588 boundary pillars along the nearly eight-kilometer-long Firke stream after completing measurements. Authorities said all structures built within the designated boundary would be removed.
The Firke stream flows through wards 18, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 6 and 17 before merging into Phewa Lake. Officials said the stream ranges from 3.3 meters to 40 meters in width and reaches depths of up to nine meters in some areas.
The metropolitan city plans to develop a “Firke Corridor” after clearing the encroachments, focusing on conservation, promotion and beautification of the stream area.
-1200x560_20230710161156.jpg)
-1200x560-1779450784.webp)
