Kathmandu— Byas Municipality in Nepal’s Tanahun district has completed construction of the Nareshwor Lake, an artificial reservoir designed to attract both domestic and international tourists while also supporting local agriculture. The lake, created by damming the Nareshwor stream at Dumsichaur in Ward No. 10, is already drawing visitors and generating interest on social media. The project represents a collaborative effort between the municipality and Gandaki Province Government, with an estimated cost of Rs. 40 million (approximately $300,000 USD).

Lake Construction and Funding

The Nareshwor Lake was built through a joint partnership between Byas Municipality and the Gandaki Province Government. Gandaki Province Assembly member Ashok Kumar Shrestha secured Rs. 15 million (approximately $112,000 USD) in funding from the provincial government for the project. Additional funds came from the Provincial Lake Conservation Authority (Rs. 1 million / ~$7,400 USD) and Byas Municipality (Rs. 5 million / ~$37,000 USD). GES Construction Service was awarded the construction contract for Rs. 18.4 million (approximately $137,000 USD).

Land Acquisition and Compensation

The municipality acquired a total of 24 ropanis and 11 annas of land from local landowners to facilitate the lake’s construction. A sum of Rs. 13.7865 million (approximately $102,000 USD) has been distributed as compensation to these landowners. Compensation rates varied based on land type, with ‘Sim’ and ‘Abbal’ land compensated at Rs. 550,000 per ropani, while ‘Doyam’ land received Rs. 575,000 per ropani.

Lake Dimensions and Capacity

Spread across approximately 28 ropanis of land, the Nareshwor Lake measures 300 metres in length with a varying width between 28 and 68 metres. Its average depth is around 3.5 metres. The lake features a concrete gravity dam structure and has a water storage capacity of up to 30,000 cubic metres. Bijay Darai, chairperson of the Nareshwor Lake Construction Users’ Committee, noted that the number of tourists visiting the lake has been increasing daily.

Future Development and Agricultural Benefits

Byas mayor Baikuntha Neupane stated that the construction of the lake aims to extend tourist stays and increase local incomes. Plans are underway to develop water-based recreational facilities, picnic spots, and other tourism infrastructure around the lake, which officials believe will benefit local hotels, restaurants, and businesses. Beyond tourism, a separate irrigation tank has been constructed alongside the lake to provide water for nearby farmlands, reducing farmers’ reliance on rainwater and potentially increasing agricultural production in the Dumsichaur area.

Local authorities anticipate that the Nareshwor Lake will serve as a catalyst for both economic growth through tourism and improved agricultural yields in the region.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.