The structures of Shitalpokhari, which used to be adorned with lotus flowers, have dried up after being constructed with cement.
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Shitalpokhari is located at the intersection of the Mid-Hill Highway and the Rapti Highway. Situated in Musikot Municipality-4, a small market has developed here these days, but the pond itself now exists in name only. The lake has lost its original form and beauty.
Recalling that there was a neat pond here about ten years ago, local resident Surya Nepali said that at that time, lotus flowers used to bloom abundantly. “But after the water was drained and cement was laid in an attempt to improve it, water never collected again,” he said. “The government even built seating areas around it. But the pond itself was destroyed.”
Currently, a temple has been built in the middle and a rest platform for sitting has been constructed around it. However, locals say these structures have little significance without water in the pond.
Chairperson of Musikot-4, Nirmal Kumar Pun, said that after they were elected, the municipality undertook reconstruction work in two phases in 2017, investing about 1.7 million rupees. “The work was started according to the plan to reconstruct the old pond. Much has been done. The only remaining task is to bring water through pipes from the nearby Panakha stream,” he said. “It is a matter of shame for all of us that this work has not been completed even in a decade. But our plan is to complete the reconstruction within this year.”
