Minister Gurung to Seek Legal Remedy in Phewa Lake Land Dispute Amid Conservation Drive

A legal and political storm is brewing over the shores of Phewa Lake as Home Minister Gurung alleges he was deceived into leasing land that falls within a restricted conservation zone. The dispute involves 10 ropani of land in Ward 22 of Pokhara Metropolitan City and pits the minister against local landowners and municipal authorities who are currently enforcing a Supreme Court-mandated conservation drive.

Minister Gurung revealed that he had planned a major adventure tourism project, including a swimming pool and hospitality structures, with an estimated investment of Rs 15–20 million. However, municipal officials informed him that the site fell within the lake’s protected boundary, halting construction. The minister now asserts that the landowners misled him about the property’s legal status and plans to pursue legal action as a private citizen.

The landowners, led by Om Bahadur Gurung, have presented a different perspective. They confirm that while a 15-year lease was signed in 2018 at an annual rent of Rs 200,000, rent has allegedly not been paid for seven years. “Either he should continue and pay the rent or come forward and cancel the contract,” Om Bahadur stated, noting that the family is stuck in a financial limbo, unable to use the land or collect dues. The property in question consists of six ropani with formal ownership certificates and additional plots held through informal family subdivisions.

The controversy comes at a sensitive time as Pokhara Metropolitan City intensifies its efforts to clear illegal encroachments. Mayor Dhanraj Acharya confirmed that structures linked to the minister fall inside the lake’s high-water mark boundary and must be removed. Following a Supreme Court verdict, the municipality is demarcating the lake’s borders based on historical water levels, exacerbated by years of sedimentation from the Harpan Khola that had temporarily turned lakebed into farmable land.

Mayor Acharya further clarified that land registered within the high-water mark would generally not be eligible for compensation. While the municipality issued a 15-day demolition notice in February, specific action on the leased property is pending final verification from land revenue and survey offices.

Despite his high-ranking government position, Minister Gurung has emphasized that he will handle the fallout through the judiciary rather than his office. As Pokhara continues its drive to restore the ecological integrity of Phewa Lake, this case highlights the complex intersection of private investment, historical land claims, and the urgent need for environmental preservation.