Kathmandu, August 8

Mayor of Kirtipur Municipality Ramesh Maharjan has urged Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management to conserve two ponds — Dudhpokhari and Sim-Jhawa Hiti  —in the municipality by declaring them wetland sites.

“Citing mismanagement and rampant exploitation of the ponds, Kirtipur mayor had sent a letter requesting that the ponds be declared wetland sites,” Director General at the department Bijaya Raj Paudyal told THT.

Municipal assembly of Kirtipur last month had decided to send the proposal to DoSCWM. The department needs to conduct study before declaring the ponds wetland sites.

Earlier, residents of Kirtipur Municipality had requested the government to protect local water sources by declaring Kirtipur and nearby areas wetland sites in May after local water sources started drying up.

After receiving the letter, the department had instructed District Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Office to conduct a detailed study.

According to locals, millions of litres of water is taken away from Kirtipur to fulfil the demand in Kathmandu.

Though the demand is increasing, no programme has been launched yet to protect local water sources.