POKHARA: A writ petition has been filed at the Pokhara High Court Pokhara demanding the prohibition of the Kotihom Birat Gyan Mahayagya on the banks of Fewa Lake.
The petition was filed a day after the high court issued an interim order against the defendants not to obstruct the Mahayagya being organized by Manav Sewa Foundation in Pokhara.
Advocates Bhagwati Pahari, Mina Kumari Ranabhat and Gita Acharya filed the writ petition on Friday, demanding the prohibition of the Mahayagya within the 65-meter protected wetland area of Fewa Lake. The petitioners have also sought legal action against those who cut down Bar, Pipal, and Shami trees at the resting places in the metropolis.
Advocate Pahari, who is also the chairperson of the Kaski District Bar Association, said that they have demanded mandatory compliance to environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and the rule of law.
The high court is conducting a hearing on the petition on Sunday.
The petitions have named 10 defendants including Manav Sewa Foundation, Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) Office, PMC Ward 6, 13 and 14 Offices, District Administration Office Kaski, Nepal Trust, and Tourism, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection Directorate, Pokhara.
According to the Supreme Court’s mandamus of April 29, 2018, no structures can be built within 65 meters of the lake, and existing structures must be removed. However, Manav Sewa Foundation is planning to organize Mahayagya within this area.
PMC earlier decided not to allow the Mahayagya in this area. However, PMC’s decision was challenged in court by the Manav Sewa Foundation.
Hearing the petition of Manav Sewa Foundation, Chief High Court Judge Ratna Bahadur Bagchand ordered all concerned to not create obstacles, except as per law, for the Mahayagya.
Manav Sewa Foundation has received permission from Nepal Trust and other government agencies to use about 48 ropani of land at Barahi Ghat for the event that will run for nearly three months.
Tourism bodies of Pokhara have also protested the Mahayagya, arguing that public property in Pokhara’s main tourist area should not be exploited in the name of religious activities.
The controversial founder of the Manav Sewa Foundation Bijay Bhandari aka Bijay Krishnamurti recently said that he was even ready to “commit irreligious acts for religion”.
