Millions misused in Jhakhor lake infrastructure in Dhangadhi

Dhangadhi: Millions of rupees have been misused in the Jhakhor Lake area located in Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City-7 of Kailali district.

A large budget was spent on the construction of cement blocks and installation of solar lights in the Jhakhor Lake complex situated within Devhariya Botanical Garden, Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City-7. The structures constructed by the sub-metropolitan city within the lake area under the Devhariya Botanical Garden and Research Office, despite objections from the garden office, have now become non-functional.

During the tenure of then Mayor Nrip Bahadur Wad, a contract worth Rs 44.9 million was signed with the objective of developing Jhakhor Lake as a tourist destination and enabling night-time tourism. The contract was awarded in 2076 BS and the work was carried out thereafter. The municipality constructed block structures on three sides of Zakhor Lake (excluding the garden area) and installed lighting systems.

A total of 762 solar lights were installed on 254 poles. However, none of the lights are currently functioning, and the constructed structures are also being damaged.

Local resident Kamala Chaudhary said that the solar lights in the Jhakhor Lake area have been non-operational since last year. According to her, most of the bulbs and solar batteries have been stolen, and some bulbs have been broken. “Now only the solar lights and poles remain,” Chaudhary said. “Someday even these will not remain.”

The Government of Nepal had handed over ownership of Jhakhor Lake to the Devhariya Botanical Garden under the forestry sector in 2056 BS. The Botanical Garden Office opposed the municipality’s construction works, stating that a large budget was spent on structures that have now become useless. Locals have said that the state budget spent during the former mayor’s tenure has not yielded results, while the Botanical Garden Office has also protested, stating that the municipality unnecessarily interfered in the lake area under its jurisdiction.

Gangadatta Bhatta, then head of the Devhariya Botanical Garden and Research Office, said that a large amount of money was misused when the municipality carried out unauthorized work in the lake area. “If hundreds of lights are installed in the lake area, butterflies, insects, and grasshoppers die. It was an unthinkable act,” he said, adding that he is now retired. “But the municipality proceeded with installing lights. In the end, it became useless.”

Bhatta said that when he suggested in 2076 BS to install limited lighting only in necessary areas instead of extensive installations, he was accused of being anti-development. “We agreed to limited lighting in one or two places,” he said. “But hundreds of lights were installed despite objections. Instead of that, we were labeled anti-development.”

Division Engineer of Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City, Dijraj Bhatta, said the municipality withdrew from the project after the Botanical Garden Office did not allow the work to continue. “We were not allowed to proceed, so we left the work,” he said. “Now people are walking through the constructed structures. Some lights may still be on.”

Local resident Buddhiram Chaudhary, who collects plastic waste in the Jhakhor Lake area, said that after the structures were left unmaintained, some parts were vandalized and stolen. “We hear that addicts are removing batteries and selling them,” he said.