Gadbijula ​​Lake, located on the border of Krishnapur Municipality and Laljhadi Rural Municipality in Kanchanpur, is in danger of extinction due to disputes between the two local levels and lack of protection.

Due to the failure to protect the lake due to the border dispute that has been going on for years, this natural heritage has been in the grip of encroachment. 

This vast lake, which once spread over an area of ​​22 bighas, has now been reduced to only about five bighas. Due to the lack of protection, a large part of the lake is being covered, while human encroachment has intensified in the remaining part. According to local Lal Singh Bohara, the lack of technical determination as to which municipality the lake falls under has created obstacles in the conservation of the lake.

'Both municipalities have their own claims on whether the lake falls in Krishnapur Municipality-2 or Laljhadi Rural Municipality-5,' Bohara said. 'The lake is about to disappear due to the tendency to quarrel over ownership but not to break the bank in conservation.' 

More than 50 families are living on the land east of the lake. Farming is being done on the encroached lake land. Locals say that after 2054 BS, a series of encroachments began as settlements expanded around the lake.

According to local Gopal Singh Mahara, the lake has been filled up with the increase in land encroachment and cultivation. 'Earlier, this lake was very deep and clean, but now it looks like a field,' Mahara expressed his sadness. As the area of ​​the lake decreased, it has also had a negative impact on the surrounding groundwater level.

With the destruction of the natural lake, the biodiversity here has also reached the point of extinction. The habitat of waterfowl and other animals dependent on the wetlands is in danger. According to local Bhajani Rana, various species of birds that were seen in the lake during the winter until a few years ago have now stopped being seen due to settlements. As the water source dries up, the ecosystem around the lake has been disrupted.

Before the country went into federal structure, the then District Development Committee Kanchanpur had been earning income by contracting this lake. After natural resources came under the control of the local level, both municipalities are trying to make it a source of income, but they are reluctant to take responsibility. Despite repeated initiatives by the District Coordination Committee, Kanchanpur, to resolve the border dispute, no concrete achievements have been made.

According to Durga Dutta Bohara, head of the District Coordination Committee, despite repeated meetings with the people's representatives of both municipalities, the implementation aspect has been weak.

'We had agreed to appoint representatives from both the executive bodies to survey the land and resolve the dispute,' said Bohara, 'but the practice of signing the agreement but not implementing it has put Gadbijula ​​Lake in danger.'

Hemraj Ojha, mayor of Krishnapur Municipality, said that the Gadbijula ​​Lake area has been under the ownership of the municipality since the time of the Village Development Committee.