POKHARA, July 31

A foundation stone was laid for a zoo in Pokhara on Friday.

Health Minister Khagaraj Adhikary, had laid the foundation stone for a proposed Pokhara International Zoo.

The zoo has been proposed to be constructed incorporating community forest of wards No 11, 12 and 14 of Lekhnath Municipality.

Laying the foundation stone for the zoo, Minister Adhikary expressed confidence that establishment of the zoo would add more charm to the Lake City’s tourism. Minister Adhikary added that the zoo, located between Begnas and Rupa Lake would help protect the environment too.

Constituent Assembly member Rabindra Adhikary, said that to-be-built zoo would play a crucial role in promoting tourism in Pokhara.

CA member Yagya Bahdaur Thapa stressed the need to forge consensus for Kaski’s development. He pledged to press the government to allocate budget for tourism promotion in the Lake City.

Similarly, western Regional Administrator, Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya said that laying the foundation for the zoo in Pokhara had opened the door for a new tourism destination. Thapaliya asked all the parties, organisations and entrepreneurs to complete the construction of the zoo within the stipulated time.

An all-party meeting had chosen Himalaya Bakhrel as Coordinator of Pokhara International Zoo Construction Committee of late. The committee has proposed to construct the zoo in 135 hectare land incorporating community forests in Lekhnath municipality. The committee aims to complete construction of the zoo in five years. The forests to be included into the zoo are home to as many as 134 species of wild animals, including leopard and deer.