Lalitpur, August 5:

What’s broken

One of the most important heritages of Lalitpur, Jagamaru pond at Pim Bahal, has been converted into a dumping site of late after locals started dumping garbage in the pond.

Special Krishna puja takes place every year in the temple located in the middle of the pond during Krishasthami and Indra Jatra.

Locals have, however, stopped offering regular daily puja in the temple due to the garbage piled in the pond.

A local Durgesh Shrestha said the foul smell that comes out of the garbage in the pond has made them hard to breathe. They could not even perform daily prayer in the temple. Ward office, Jagamaru Pond Conservation Committee (JPCC) and Lalitpur Sub Metropolitan City (LSMC) seemed reluctant to conserve the pond, he said.

Guna Raj Shakya, owner of a metal workshop near the pond, said tourists do not bother to visit the pond any more due to the deteriorating condition of the pond, which once used to be a hot tourist spot.

Who is responsible

Due to lack of sufficient budget we are unable to clean the pond. Until a few years ago, the

Lalitpur Sub Metropolitan City used to provide funds for the preservation of the pond. However, the LSCM has stopped providing budget now. The JPCC is planning to clean the pond with its own budget as special puja is going to be organised in the temple during the Indra Jatra.

— Chandra Lal Maharjan, Member of Jagmaru Pond Conservation Committee