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Pokhara, a city celebrated for its shimmering lakes and natural beauty, needs saving from rampant environmental degradation. Pollution has been escalating at an alarming rate, severely impacting the indigenous communities whose livelihoods depend on the lake water. Despite their tireless efforts, a sustainable solution remains elusive, highlighting the urgent need for action to conserve the lakes.

Shobha Shrestha, a resident of Damside on the eastern shore of Fewa Lake, recalls the time when the lake’s crystal-clear waters rippled gently, filling her with a sense of calm. “You could drink the lake water without any worry,” she says. “You can do that now because of pollution.” 

Shanti Pahari, a resident of Khahare, shares similar sentiments. She leads a local women’s group that has been actively involved in the Fewa cleaning effort.“The pollution never stops, no matter how often we clean the lake,” she says. “The lake is turning into a sewage dumping site.”

Lake pollution has also hit the local fishing communities. Mina Jalari, who belongs to a fishing community of Khapaudi, says their daily catch has significantly declined over the years. Just a decade ago she used to catch up to 30 kg of fish in a day. “These days, you are lucky if you catch 5 kg of fish. Our traditional occupation is at risk,” says Jalari.

Deforestation of Panchase Forest, which serves as an important lifeline for Fewa, has also contributed to disrupting the lake’s ecosystem. “Illegal logging, poaching, and wildfires have become common,” says Durga Bahadur Ghale, who is part of a local anti-poaching unit. “Our mission is to protect the forest because it is home to many plant and animal species and plays a key role in maintaining Fewa’s ecological balance.”

Rupa Lake, once famous for its abundant lotus flowers, has also seen a drastic decline in its aquatic flora in recent years.“Lotus plants thrived along the shores just a decade ago, but now they are found in only small patches,” says Ganga Gurung, who presides over Rupa Women’s Group. The loss is ecological and cultural. Locals have been using lotus flowers and plants for traditional remedies. Now, such practices are fading.

The Rupa Restoration and Fisheries Development Cooperative has been working to conserve biodiversity while supporting local livelihoods. However, over the past five years, environmental challenges have taken a heavy toll.

Last year, the cooperative earned Rs 15m from fish sales, but this year, losses have climbed to Rs 4m. Shivraj Adhikari, president of the cooperative, notes that without any revenue, they will be unable to fund projects like pesticide-free farming, women’s economic empowerment, and watershed conservation.“We have dedicated our lives to preserving this lake, but the outcomes are not so promising these days,” he says.

The plight of Pokhara’s lakes reflects a broader environmental emergency—one that threatens not only the natural landscape but also the people whose lives depend on it.

According to a 2020 report by the Gandaki Provincial Government and Pokhara Metropolitan City, Fewa covers 5.7 square kilometers (11,000 ropanis) and has an average depth of 8.4 meters. However, a 1998 survey by the Survey of India recorded Fewa’s area at 22,000 ropanis—double its current size.

Despite continuous cleanup efforts by locals and environmental groups, pollution and encroachment in Fewa continue unabated. 

“I have seen the lake shrink over the years. The areas that were once underwater are now above ground level,” says Khagendra Gurung, a local man.

Unrecognized community sacrifices 

Around 20 years ago, 200 families gave up their farmlands to conserve Maidi Lake, a wetland habitat known for its ducks and herons. The construction of a check dam overflowed the lake, submerging their fields. However, they have yet to receive any compensation. Instead, invasive weeds have proliferated, affecting the lake’s ecosystem. 

“Unwanted weeds have taken over the lake and very little has been done to conserve the wetland,” says Kriti Ballabh Tripathi, who surrendered 14 ropanis of his land for the wetland conservation program. He regrets giving his farmland for which he hasn't been compensated yet. 

In Dipang Lake, locals faced a similar crisis when invasive weeds took over the water. Their call for help went unanswered, so they formed a lake conservation committee and launched a campaign to remove the weeds from the lake. Their campaign lasted for nearly five years, during which they raised around Rs 50m with the help of local individuals, organizations, and institutions to clear the weeds. 

“We transformed Dipang from a mere pond into a proper lake, but since then, continuing conservation efforts has not been easy,” says Ramji Lamichhane, founding chair of the committee.

Despite their tireless efforts to protect the surrounding wildlife and vegetation, he says no governmental or private entity has shown interest in supporting their conservation efforts.

In Begnas Lake, the local Jalari (fishing) community dedicates one day per week to voluntary labor cleaning the lake. They have also formed a committee for forest and wildlife conservation. But their efforts have gone unrecognized.

In Rupa Lake, plummeting fish stocks have prompted the locals to appeal to all three levels of government for help. But they haven’t received any proper response. “It pains us that even the local government has failed to take an interest in solving our problems,” says Adhikari, the president of Rupa Restoration and Fisheries Development Cooperative. 

Even when programs related to lake conservation are implemented, the local government fails to involve the locals. The Fewa Damside Community Development Organizations has been organizing lake clean-up and tree plantation campaigns for decades now, but its members say they have received little to no support from their local government.

Shrinking lake

Environmental experts estimate that 14,200 tons of silt accumulate in Fewa Lake annually. Rapid spread of water hyacinth in Pokhara’s lakes is clear evidence of pollution. As waste accumulates in the lakes, essential nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus increase significantly, disrupting the wetland ecosystem. The excessive presence of these nutrients leads to a decrease in plankton, which is crucial for the aquatic ecosystem. 

A study conducted in 2023 by the Journal of the Nepal Chemical Society found that the average phosphate level in Pokhara’s lakes is 0.0036, while the nitrate level is 27.156—both exceeding the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“As nitrogen and phosphorus levels rise, the growth of invasive water hyacinth also accelerates, causing an imbalance in the lake’s ecosystem,” says environmentalist Anil Suvedi. 

Water hyacinth reproduces at an alarming rate, doubling in number every week. From a single sapling, around 1,200 offspring can be produced within four months, and in one year, its biomass can reach 18,000 metric tons per hectare.

With a population of around 400,000, Pokhara’s main settlements are intersected by the Firke and Bulaundi rivers, which have turned into major carriers of urban sewage due to rapid urbanization. Carelessly discarded waste flows into these rivers through drains, eventually ending up in Fewa Lake. The use of pesticides in farming, along with chemical runoff, further contributes to the pollution of the lake’s surrounding environment.

Additionally, hotels and houses near the lake have built sewage outlets and septic tanks directly connected to the lake, further worsening the situation, according to environmentalists.

“Unplanned development projects conducted without proper environmental impact assessments have also led to soil erosion, increasing sediment deposition in the lake and affecting both its size and ecological balance,” says Suvedi.

Campaign by civil society

The civil society of Pokhara organizes at least two annual lake clean-up events, during which they remove a minimum of 30 truckloads of water hyacinth and plastic waste from Fewa Lake alone. 

“Yet, the pollution in the lake has not decreased,” says Narendra Man Lalchan, president of Civil Society Kaski. “People still need to understand that polluting the lake directly impacts the entire ecosystem surrounding it.”

A few years ago, this civil society launched a grand campaign for environmental protection. Under this initiative, hundreds of social organizations and groups in Pokhara joined hands to address the problems of wetland areas. Over 1,200 social organizations—including women's groups, community development organizations, various professional associations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, the army, and the police—are involved in this campaign. 

Pokhara Metropolitan City consists of 33 wards. Each fiscal year, the Metropolitan Executive Council approves and allocates budgets for an average of 70 plans (programs) from each ward. However, many wards do not include environmental conservation programs. In the current fiscal year, approximately 2,500 programs have been included in Pokhara Metropolitan City’s ‘Red Book–Plan and Budget Allocation Document’. Among them, only 56 programs—just 2.24 percent—are related to environmental conservation.

Under the environmental promotion program for the current fiscal year, Pokhara Metropolitan City has allocated a budget of Rs 583m for 13 programs. Additionally, under tourism and cultural promotion, around Rs 200m has been allocated for five programs related to environmental beautification. This accounts for only about 1.5 percent of the total budget.

As of mid-February, no contracts for these programs have been awarded, and the tender process has not yet begun. The Urban Development, Tourism, and Environment Division of Pokhara Metropolitan City stated that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for about 20 percent of these programs is still in progress.

According to Division Chief Bimal Ranjan Karki, the lack of skilled technical personnel and experienced contractors has hindered the implementation of several programs despite the intent to execute them. Since the last fiscal year, the metropolitan city has assigned projects worth less than Rs 5m to consumer committees, while larger projects are handled by contractors.

The government showcased different projects with a target of attracting investment commitments of over Rs 600bn during the third Nepal Investment Summit held in Kathmandu on 28-29 April 2024. However, most of the projects showcased during the event failed to attract serious interest from investors.

One year on, the Office of the Investment Board Nepal (OIBN) has admitted that foreign investor response has fallen short of expectations. “Although many projects were showcased during the summit, investor interest has not materialized as anticipated,” said Pradyumna Prasad Upadhyaya, the spokesperson for the OIBN. He, however, added that overall sentiment toward investing in Nepal remains positive. OIBN is the specialized government body to handle projects above Rs 6bn and hydropower projects exceeding 200 MW. 

Nepal first organized the investment summit in 2015, primarily to support post-earthquake reconstruction. The first summit generated commitments of around Rs 1.4trn whereas the second investment summit held in 2019 saw investment pledges worth Rs 3.2trn.

Investors from China, India express interest

Neighboring countries China and India have shown willingness to invest in select projects. Chinese investors are close to signing a Project Development Agreement (PDA) for the Damak Clean Industrial Park. They have also shown interest in the Panchkhal Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kavre and submitted a proposal to start a processing zone in Nuwakot. Meanwhile, Indian investors have proposed establishing an edible oil company in Janakpur and submitted proposals for IT parks around Chobhar, Khumaltar and Nuwakot, along with a solar energy project.

The Muktinath Cable Car, spanning roughly 81 km from Birethanti on the Kaski–Parbat area to Muktinath Temple of Mustang is also moving forward. The project is currently in the environment impact study phase with the Detailed Project Report finalized.
Other progressing projects include the long-stalled West Seti Hydropower Project and the SR6 hydropower project, which is close to the final DPR submission stage. The OIBN has also received a proposal for a fertilizer plant in Bardaghat that will consume 300 MW.
Upadhyaya said they have received proposals for unique projects like seabed mining. Korea’s railway company, KORAIL, has shown intent to invest in Nepal’s railway sector. “Though exact figures on the investments received are not available, many project negotiations have made significant progress,” he added. Former OIBN CEO Sushil Bhatta, who led the Board during the third summit, explained that large investments often begin with expressions of interest and take time to materialize. “Rather than asking how much investment has come, we need to evaluate how projects are progressing,” he said.

FDI inflow of Rs 141bn

Since the third Nepal Investment Summit, Nepal has attracted Rs 141.14bn in foreign direct investment (FDI). However, this inflow is not directly tied to projects showcased at the third summit. Most investments are in projects under the Rs 6bn threshold. Before the summit, the government amended several investment-related acts via ordinance. 

The private sector had previously identified 52 acts and regulations as barriers. Although most of these legislations were revised, lack of accompanying procedures and guidelines has slowed progress in implementation. “Investors frequently ask us why procedures and directives have not followed legal amendments,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Industry, attributing delays to poor coordination among government agencies.
Upadhyaya said while drafts of some working procedures are in progress, the OIBN’s limited autonomy, having to rely on the Prime Minister’s Office for decisions, has complicated matters. “Policies evaluated by the OIBN are often misunderstood or delayed by other agencies,” he said.
Former OIBN CEO Bhatta said that procedural, legal and institutional reforms must be followed by behavioral reforms to ensure smoother project transitions. “Our credibility will be enhanced if projects in the pipeline goes into implementation as per the set timelines,” Bhatta said. “We also need to learn from international experiences on these aspects.”

Will graylisting affect FDI?

Nepal was recently placed back on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “gray list” for deficiencies in curbing money laundering and terrorist financing. Though this does not block investment outright, it can raise doubts among investors. “Nepal needs to address these concerns seriously,” said Upadhyaya: At a time when investor interest is growing, reputational risks could affect future FDI flows.

Europe Day is a powerful reminder of the day, 75 years ago, when Europe chose cooperation over conflict. In the aftermath of a war, we chose peace. And that choice became the foundation of the European Union.

Today, more than ever, that choice continues to guide us. In a world full of uncertainties, people across the globe are suffering because of climate change, conflict and inequality. The need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine has not diminished. Conflict in the Mideast continues to bring misery to millions. Closer to us, an increasingly hostile climate threatens lives and livelihoods.

There are currently more live conflicts than at any time since World War II. Despite, and perhaps because of these conflicts, Europe Day should inspire us today to believe in and work for peace and unity.

The European Union remains a strong voice for peace, and we are proud to call Nepal a trusted and valued partner in that journey. Together with our member-states, under the Team Europe approach, we stand alongside Nepal in its efforts to pursue the transitional justice process in the spirit of reconciliation and permanent peace. As a trustworthy friend, we also stand with Nepal in its efforts to avert climate crises and respond to natural disasters.

In its challenging quest for prosperity, Nepal can also count on the EU. Nepal’s graduation from Least Developed Country status in 2026 means it needs to attract investment to foster economic growth. This is not an easy task when migration has become the path of choice for so many Nepali youth. But a solid commitment to improving the investment climate is crucial for realizing Nepal’s considerable economic potential and creating the business and employment opportunities young people need to build the future Nepal.

The European Union is supporting Nepal’s prosperity agenda through its “Global Gateway” initiative, together with the European Union member-states and European Development Finance Institutions. Global Gateway can support Nepal’s progress and narrow the investment gap through smart, clean and secure investments in quality infrastructure and connectivity.

In a rapidly changing, increasingly fragmented world, international cooperation has turned into global competition. The EU also needs to become more strategic and resilient. But we stand firm on the universal values we have built together with the UN since 1945, and on our commitment to multilateralism. As global challenges grow, so does our determination to remain a reliable, consistent, and principled partner. So tonight, as we celebrate Europe Day here in Nepal, let us also celebrate what connects us. The friendship between our peoples. The commitment to a more peaceful and just world. The belief—borne out of our own experiences—that cooperation can overcome even the toughest challenges.

The author is the EU Ambassador to Nepal

‘Norwegian Wood’ is the book that made Haruki Murakami a household name in Japan (as well as the rest of the world after it was translated into English in 2000). It’s a book everyone in Japan has read according to Jay Ruben, the book’s translator.  And that says a lot about the book’s popularity considering Murakami has written several novels, short story collections, as well as memoirs.

Murakami’s readers shot to millions after the publication of Norwegian Wood but it apparently depressed the author. He could deal with fame but the sudden stardom was too much for him so he moved to the United States in 1991. It was only in 1995 that he returned to Japan but he had his terms and conditions: He would not appear on television to talk about his work.

One would wonder what a masterpiece Murakami must have written to have a whole nation going crazy over him. Norwegian Wood was different from everything he had written till then. He had never written a straight, simple story. It was a challenge for him. But he enjoyed writing it and it was perhaps that joy of telling a story that lent his writing a whole other dimension. It was also perhaps what made readers connect with his work.

Norwegian Wood is essentially a story about love, loss, and longing. And we all can relate to these emotions pretty well. It’s written in first person narrative style. The main character is Toru Watanabe and he reminisces about his college days in Tokyo when he was in love with a girl. The book explores his relationship with two women, Naoko and Midori Kobayashi. Each of the three characters experience loss and grief and have his/her own ways of dealing with it. You could also call it a coming of age story of a sensitive young man who doesn’t fit into the conventional norms of society.

I had read Norwegian Wood when I was in college. I remember enjoying it but it didn’t get me hooked on Murakami as it did for some of my other reader friends. I had a few friends who read Murakami back to back because they were so bowled over by Norwegian Wood. I didn’t pick up Murakami’s other works until much later. But reading his other works made me want to reread Norwegian Wood. Most of his stories are bizarre and you need time to wrap your head about them. So I can understand the appeal of a simple story like Norwegian Wood, where things feel relatable but there’s still the Murakami style intrigue that you have come to expect and love.

Rereading Norwegian Wood as an adult felt surreal. I got the feeling of ‘been there done that’ that brought lost memories to mind and forced me to ponder over some of the things I had done. I feel it’s a good book to pick up in your late teens or early 20s, when you are trying to make sense of the world and where you fit in it. But if you haven’t read Murakami and you aren’t in your teens or early 20s, don’t let that stop you from reading the book. It’s not a fun story. It’s intense, complicated, and sad too. But it’s a good story that is well worth your time. 

Fiction

Norwegian Wood

Haruki Murakami

Translated in English by Jay Ruben

Published: 1987

Publisher: Penguin Random House UK

Pages: 389, Paper