Pokhara, May 11:

A month-long campaign to rid the Fewa Lake of water hyacinth kicked off here today.

Some 60 paid workers in the coordination of the Phewa Lake Environment Improvement Committee (PLEIC) have started removing hyacinth from Dhalkewar and Ratodanda areas in the northern part of the lake, chairperson of the panel Chudamani Pahari, said.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has provided an assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the removal of the plants that swamp the lake, NTB member Bashudev Tripathi said.

The duration of the campaign may be extended if the Pokhara sub-metropolis and the Pokhara Valley City Development Committee provide more funds for it, PLEIC secretary, Ganesh Dhakal, said.

The Pokhara sub-metropolis had expressed its commitment to provide Rs 70,000 last year, but in vain, Pahari said, adding that fishermen and the Phewa Boat Entrepreneurs Association have also chipped in with some cash for the campaign this year around.

A study carried out by engineer Niraj Gurung showed that some 2.5 per cent of the total area of the lake — 443 ha — is covered by the plants. Though it was not possible to rid the lake of the plants completely, its spread has slowed due to the campaigns, Dr Brijgopal, who is involved in the study of the hyacinth for 28 years, said.