Kathmandu. Pokhara—The Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) has decided to remove the structures built inside the Firke rivulet that flows through the middle part of the market from today. Earlier, the 35-day deadline given by the KMC to remove the structures built by encroaching upon public land came to an end on Saturday.

The metropolis had issued a notice on April 13 to remove the structures constructed on public land. KMC Mayor Dhanraj Acharya said that the campaign will be started from today as the people and organizations living in the river houses and those involved in the construction of structures have been given prior notice. “As per the Firke Khola measurement report carried out in 2080 BS, the metropolis will remove all structures constructed inside Kholghar. ” said Mayor Acharya.

Removal of encroached structures will be started from three places in the metropolis. The bulldozer will be operated from ward no 4, Pokhara-4 and 5 from Bhirkepul to ward 5 and 8 and Pokhara-7 and 8 from Lions Bhawan to Fewa Lake along the border of Pokhara-7 and 8. According to KMC, the campaign to remove the encroached structures will be carried out under the leadership of the chairpersons and people’s representatives of the concerned wards.

Some organizations have already vacated their structures after the KMC issued a public notice. The Lions Club in Firke has already moved all its belongings on Friday. Similarly, the Photographers Association has also vacated the building. According to the Firke measurement report carried out by the metropolis, 160 structures ranging from permanent to temporary have been constructed on the Firke rivulet. According to the survey report, 97 temporary structures and 35 permanent structures were constructed by encroaching on Firke rivulet.

Similarly, 10 temporary structures and 18 permanent structures have been constructed on the river. The total length of the river is eight kilometers which flows through Pokhara Metropolitan City-18, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 6 and 17. The river was found to be at least 3.30 to 40 meters wide. A total of 303 border pillars were erected towards the west and 285 pillars towards the east of the rivulet.