Pokhara Metropolitan City Issues 15-Day Ultimatum to Remove Illegal Structures Around Phewa Lake

Pokhara. The Pokhara Metropolitan City has issued a 15-day ultimatum to remove the remaining structures built in violation of the Phewa Lake standards. In a statement issued on Saturday, the metropolis ordered the removal of all remaining structures within 15 days.

In the process of implementing the Supreme Court's verdict, the metropolis, with the active involvement of the police, has already demolished about 30 temporary structures using dozers.

'The Metropolitan City has taken serious note of the fact that structures were built overnight within the 65-meter area from the highest water level determined by the Supreme Court, even after the demarcation of the lake was completed,' the notice stated. 'All concerned builders are hereby notified to remove all unauthorized structures built after the demarcation within 15 (fifteen) days from the date of publication of this notice.'

The metropolis has warned that if the structures are not removed within the stipulated time, it will remove them itself in accordance with the law, and the costs incurred during the process will be recovered from the concerned individual or organization as government dues.

'If the structures are not removed within the specified time, the Metropolitan City will remove them in accordance with the law, and the costs incurred during the removal will be recovered from the concerned individual or organization, and action will be taken as per government dues,' the notice mentioned.

Previously, through the joint initiative of the Pokhara Metropolitan City, the Gandaki Province Government, and the Government of Nepal, the work of identifying the highest water level of Phewa Lake and demarcating the lake has been completed.

The metropolis stated that the classification of land falling within the 65-meter area and the determination of plots eligible for compensation or subject to cancellation are in the final stages.