Devidah located in Lahan Municipality-17 is becoming ugly due to lack of protection. Due to the lack of budget in this area, which is also a tourist spot, the physical structures around the pond have become dilapidated.
Located at the foothills of Chureka, six kilometers north of Lahan Bazar on the East-West highway, if it can be properly protected, it will definitely be the choice of domestic and foreign tourists.
Devidah community forest is spread over an area of six hectares, despite continuous efforts for the protection and enhancement of this wetland area, but no significant progress has been made, said Kapileshwar Yadav, chairman of the Devidah Conservation Committee and Forest Consumer Group.
'This ten is famous in terms of religion and history. There are crowds of people at fairs and festivals. There is a popular belief that if devotees take vows, their wishes will be fulfilled and diseases will disappear,' he said, 'but due to lack of budget, protection is not being done. Some of the structures built are dilapidated and some are incomplete.'
According to him, only two of the five boats in the pond for 'Jalayatra' are in operation. The first president of Nepal, Dr. Rambaran Yadav, visited this area during his tenure and President Yadav informed that a budget of 1.59 million has been allocated under the 'President Chure Development Program' for the protection of the pond. He informed that Ramzan temple, water supply management, etc. have been done in the pond premises from that amount.
Chairman Yadav informed that there was a plan agreement of 52.2 million rupees for the protection and beautification of Devidah pond from Nepal Tourism Board on 1st August 2077, but it was not implemented. The city has to bear on its behalf He said that since 30 percent of the responsibility has not been borne, the construction of six kilometers of black road from Khuttikhola in Lahan to Devidah, 'Pavilion' view tower in the pool complex, and Queming Bridge have not progressed. He complained that the current mayor, Mahesh Prasad Choudhary, has not received any hearing despite several requests.
Prathamalal Choudhary, the ward chairman of this ward, says that he is helping as much as he can for the development of Devidah. He said, 'How many resources and means are there? That is also what we are helping as much as we can.' He said that last year, the Devi temple was built with the financial support of eight lakhs from the ward.
Ward Chairman Chaudhary says that the government at all three levels should give priority to the protection and development of these types of ponds when the underground water level is decreasing in Chure area.
