Protection of lakes stressed

Dec-22nd-2011
KATHMANDU: The National Lake Protection Development Committee has emphasized on operation of all the lakes in the country under a single policy.

The meeting of the Committee held Wednesday said some 5,000 lakes of the country should be protected under one plan and government should make both short term and long term plans for their development as per touristic importance.

Chairman of the National Lake Development Committee Shaligram Poudel said lakes were encroached for lack of government policies and bio-diversity linked to it are facing problems.

He also said a high level squad should be formed immediately as they cannot be protected under the present condition.

As per World Protection Association Nepal, there are 163 wetlands in Terai of Nepal and 79 are in the hills and as per the Committee's 2009 preliminary statistics, there are 5,358 natural lakes in the country.

Some 2,712 lakes are below 500 metres altitude, 2,227 above 3,000 metres and 419 lakes are in the mid-hills.

The data on number and status of other lakes in high Himalayas are yet not ascertained, said Poudel.

No effective endeavors have been undertaken because of the ownership debate among the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Local Development, Finance Ministry and Tourism Ministry, said NAST representative Prakash Raut.

National Nature Conservation Fund Executive Director Judda Bahadur Gurung said the ownership issue should be cleared first, whereas NTB Manager Mani Lamichhane said, immediate steps are needed as the high Himalayan lakes are facing problems due to climate change.

He said the two thirds of the Fewa Lake was encroached, Rupa lake was not managed well and water level decreasing, Tsho Rolpa and Tilicho lakes were facing problems because of climate change and could be a history if not an immediate protection strategy is taken to protect them.

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