Pokhara Mayor's Firke River Project Faces Delays Amidst Incomplete Demolitions
Summary
Pokhara's Firke River redevelopment project faces delays as demolitions of riverbank structures remain incomplete, hindering plans for a tourism corridor supported by the Asian Development Bank.
Key Points
- Pokhara Metropolitan City began demolition of illegal structures on the Firke Riverbank but the campaign halted prematurely, leaving many structures intact.
- Mayor Dhanraj Acharya envisions a Firke River corridor similar to South Korea's Cheonggyecheon, aimed at tourism and organized pedestrian pathways.
- Civil society and environmental activists express concern over the incomplete demolitions, calling for immediate action to protect the river and public land.
- The Asian Development Bank has committed 620 million rupees for the Firke Corridor project, which is planned to be completed between 2024 and 2026 but has yet to start due to delays.
