Image courtesy:Project Nature Nepal 

Every year on June 5, the world celebrates, 'environment day', a day dedicated to our mother nature and it's well-being. This year's theme says,'Reimagine, Recreate and  Restore'. 

Image courtesy: wincalendar 

On this occasion, United Nations has launched 'UN decade(2021/30) on EcosystemRestoration, which is a 10 year long campaign designed by the organisation to prevent the exploitation of the environment and work on the ecological restoration.

Similarly,in the context of the beloved city Pokhara, who takes pride in the beauty of Fewa lake for its alluring side has not been quite the same, over the years owing to it's filthy and dilapidated state. With no account of the amount of junks and scraps like food packets, used bottles ,among other's being discarded at the lake, recklessly by small children to the grown ups. Partly, the connection of hotels and nearby house's sewage pipes to the lake has also contributed to this dirty mess.

Thus,a committee has already been formed for the lake restoration because with the increase in the lake's pollution can adversely effect the ecosystem as well as harm the irrigation channels.

But,knowing that, the people of Pokhara are assuming the responsibility towards the environment and with a mission to bring back the glory of Fewa lake through different cleanliness programmes and collecting plastic wastes near and around the lakeshore which is mentioned below :

Pokhara .

Last year,Project Nature Nepal, a young group based in Pokhara,for 110 days had been working on the 'Fewa Lake cleaning 'campaign in which around 3000 bags of plastic wastes, measuring about 30 tons had been collected by them at the bank of the lake. They had also covered other areas near the Fewalake shore like Basundhara Park side,Gaurighat,Chesspark, behind the army barack. 

Image courtesy: Project Nature Nepal 

Besides that, they had also joined hands with Gandaki Province Armed Police Battalion,assisted by local people, to clean the trash heap around the FirkeKhola located at back of Baidam Police area in the name of 'FirkeSarsafai' and did collect 245 trash bags.

Image courtesy : Project Nature Nepal 

They had also visually represented the waste items found at the lake which consists of large syringes deposition that can pose a threat and bring environment hazards.

Image courtesy:Project Nature Nepal 

Apart from that, earlier this year ,a group of young people for two days while coordinating with the locals and Damside club,volunteers also led another cleanliness programme near the canal of Irrigation Power House in damside,in which waste bags were collected through the boats.

Image courtesy :Ashish Puri

Hill Himalaya youth member of Pokhara in the beginning of the year cleaned the area near the Fewa wetlands or the popular paragliding spot.

Image courtesy: Yam Gurung. 

The tourist's are also let down by the lake's pollution. 

I can hope that, on your next visit to the lake city, once the lockdown is lifted, all you can do is to carry your own reusable water bottle and if not atleast throw them into the bin or discard any plastic packed food on the garbage boxes.The effort might look small but remember,'Little drops make the mighty ocean'.

Note:All the cleanliness programmes were done before the lockdown 2.0