HAPN draws Minister Ghising’s attention to Phewa Lake conservation

KATHMANDU: The Hotel Association Pokhara Nepal (HAPN) has drawn the attention of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Kulman Ghising to the urgent need for conserving Phewa Lake, a key natural and tourism asset of Nepal.

Submitting a six-point memorandum, the association urged the minister—who also holds responsibility for Physical Infrastructure, Transport, and Urban Development—to ensure adequate budget allocation for the protection and sustainable management of the lake.

A delegation led by Bharat Raj Parajuli, central member of the Hotel Association of Nepal and coordinator of the advisory council of HAPN, met Minister Ghising and highlighted the problems and challenges currently faced by the tourism sector, calling for timely government intervention.

The memorandum, signed by HAPN President Laxman Subedi, states that Fewa Lake, regarded as one of Nepal’s natural treasures, is gradually deteriorating due to floods, landslides, sewage discharge, and encroachment, particularly during the monsoon season.

Despite boundary demarcation already being completed by local governments in line with a Supreme Court verdict, conservation efforts have stalled due to the lack of necessary budget.

The association has therefore urged the government to allocate sufficient funds in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget to ensure the effective conservation and promotion of Phewa Lake.

The memorandum also calls for appropriate relief and rehabilitation measures for hotel establishments directly affected by the Gen Z movement, stressing the need to support tourism businesses struggling to recover.

Furthermore, HAPN pointed out that although the current budget had pledged to provide tourism industries with facilities equivalent to those given to other industries, such provisions have yet to be implemented.

Raising concerns over delays in the upgrading of major highways linked to Pokhara, the association emphasized the need to pressure relevant authorities to complete projects within the stipulated timeframe.

It also proposed advancing plans for the construction of a fast-track road to directly connect Pokhara with the Indian border, which it says would significantly boost tourism and economic activities in the region.