Pokhara Metropolitan blocks Kotihom event, citing environmental concerns

KATHMANDU: Pokhara Metropolitan City has made it clear that it will not grant permission for the proposed Kotihom event.

Mayor Dhanraj Acharya stated that long-duration events causing noise pollution will not be allowed in the tourist city.

According to Mayor Acharya, a similar event held earlier had significant environmental impacts, even affecting flight operations.

“Hosting a Kotihom event for four months in Pokhara is not feasible,” he said. “Such activities negatively impact tourism, so the metropolis has decided not to permit it.”

He emphasized that events like these should not be held near Phewa Lake. “Lakeside is a sensitive tourist area, and such programs are inappropriate here,” he added.

However, other religious events will take place in Pokhara. A Mahayagya is scheduled at Pumdikot from Feb 19 to 27 and another at Sarangkot from Feb 26 to March 5.

But the Kotihom event, Mayor Acharya reiterated, will not be allowed under any circumstances.

The event has sparked controversy after the organizing ashram allegedly cut down trees along roadsides and public spaces.

The felled trees were reportedly stored on Nepal Trust land in Lakeside.

In response, the metropolitan city deployed its municipal police on Wednesday to seize the logs.