Authorities Demolish Structures Near Phewa Lake Amid Protests Over Compensation

Pokhara. In an effort to enforce the 65-meter setback zone for the conservation of Phewa Lake, bulldozers were used to demolish temporary structures on Saturday.

The demolition was carried out under the directive of the federal government and in the presence of Pokhara Metropolitan City officials. However, affected landowners and civil society members have criticized the administration for using force, urging them to follow legal procedures. They condemned the action as 'state terror,' arguing that the demolition was conducted without providing compensation or alternative arrangements in the tourist hub.

Nabin Baral, coordinator of the Phewa Lake Victims Concern Committee, accused the state of acting tyrannically in the tourist capital of Pokhara, especially under the newly formed government. 'It is unjust to deploy bulldozers early in the morning while tourists and local business owners are asleep,' he stated. 'It is deplorable that the state is demonstrating its power while the issues of demarcation and standards are still sub-judice at the Supreme Court.' He demanded that the process proceed only after providing compensation at prevailing market rates or arranging land-for-land swaps.

Similarly, Ram Bahadur Paudel, a leader of Civil Society Kaski, emphasized that the government must decide on compensation before terrorizing the public to demolish structures. 'Before removing structures within the setback zone, proper compensation or land-for-land arrangements must be made,' he said. 'Until compensation is determined, government and public structures should be removed first.' Civil society has suggested that government bodies such as the Immigration Office, Nepal Tourism Board, Pokhara Metropolitan City's Education Division, Provincial Police Battalion, and the Fisheries Research Center should be relocated first.

Following a directive from the federal government on Friday night, the structures along the lakeshore were removed early Saturday morning amidst a heavy police presence. Protesters are voicing their opposition, claiming the structures were demolished without prior notice. Landowners and business operators, in particular, have accused the state of harassment.