Rup Narayan Dhakal

Lekhnath, February 2:

Concerned over the decrease in diameter of the Maidi lake, caused by soil erosion on the upper part of the lake, people of the Lekhnath municipality have called on the authorities concerned to initiate conservation measures.

“Maidi — the smallest lake in the municipality — has boosted the natural beauty of the municipality. The authorities concerned should initiate proper measures to conserve it,” Ram Bahadur Gurung, a local, said. “The lake, which is spread over 1.17 hectares, is contracting every year.”

“People can now step in the spot where they used to fish,” said another local, Chakra Pani Gautam. “The plan to lease out the lake to any organisation interested in its conservation could not be executed due to the absence of local representatives,” said a former deputy mayor of the municipality, Mohan Raj Basnet. The municipality has leased out four of the seven lakes in the region. Though a road has been constructed near the lake, Maidi has not been able to attract tourists. Many in the municipality are not even aware of the lake. Even as the locals said efforts at the village level would not be enough to conserve the lake, a source at the municipality said conservation measures could not be carried out due to the lack of funds.