Pokhara’s Firkke Riverbank Demolition Leaves 55 Structures Intact

Pokhara Metropolitan City’s efforts to demolish structures along the Firkke Riverbank have stalled, leaving 55 buildings intact. The demolition drive, which began two months ago, aimed to remove 160 structures identified as illegal in a 2080 BS survey report.

So far, 105 temporary and some permanent structures have been demolished. However, around 55 permanent and institutional buildings, including some government offices, community centers, and large houses, remain intact.

Some of the demolished houses are still occupied by people who have not vacated the premises. The remaining structures have not been demolished due to the need for further measurement and legal procedures.

The demolition drive was initiated as part of the Asian Development Bank-supported tourism corridor project. However, the project’s slow progress has led to the demolition drive losing momentum.

Concerns Raised

Ram Bahadur Paudel, an engineer at the Pokhara Environment Division, has expressed concerns over the stalled demolition drive. He has urged the authorities to remove the remaining structures as soon as possible to ensure the construction of the Firkke corridor, including a pedestrian path and cycle lane.

The metropolitan city had started demolishing structures along the riverbank on Jestha 10, 2083 BS, using bulldozers at three different locations. The authorities had given a 35-day notice to the occupants before starting the demolition drive.