To ensure a smooth supply of drinking water for the people of Pokhara, the Hotel Association Pokhara, Nepal, has drawn the attention of the Water Supply Corporation. A delegation from the Association, led by President Laxman Subedi, visited the Nepal Water Supply Corporation’s Pokhara office on Monday, urging the institution to take the basic human necessity of water supply more seriously.
The team met with Assistant Manager and Engineer Ashish Karki at his office and informed him about the ongoing water-related issues faced by the tourism sector. Association President Subedi highlighted that during the ongoing Visit Pokhara Year 2025 campaign, irregular water supply has negatively impacted hotel businesses. He expressed concern that the shortage of drinking water in key tourist areas such as Lakeside and Damside could send a negative message about the city’s hospitality standards.
In the official letter submitted by the Association, it was mentioned that hotels and businesses in Pokhara, the tourism capital of Nepal, have not been able to access enough water, especially during the dry season. Many hoteliers are forced to purchase borewell water daily to serve their guests. The letter urged the Corporation to ensure regular and reliable drinking water supply, especially in tourist-heavy areas like Lakeside and Damside.
Former Association President Bikal Tulachan stated that it’s unfortunate to face such water issues during the city’s tourism promotion year. First Vice-President Deepak Shrestha said that receiving water only once a week in sensitive areas like Lakeside has caused significant difficulties. Another Vice-President, Ganesh Raj Pahari, pointed out that even after support from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), the water supply in Pokhara remains inadequate. Treasurer Netra Prasad Paudel (Ramesh) emphasized the need for a concrete commitment from the Water Supply Corporation, expressing frustration that consumers are being charged even when water is not supplied.
Engineer Karki acknowledged that the current project is based on an outdated plan from around 2015 and admitted that even with JICA’s support, Pokhara’s water demands have not been met. He also pointed out issues like leakage and water theft, adding that supplying enough water would also increase the corporation’s revenue. He assured the Association that every effort would be made to improve water supply in the city.
Meanwhile, locals from different parts of Pokhara have reported that they receive water only once a week or every 3–4 days, and only for a few hours. Bhim Subedi, a resident of Srijanachowk, shared that they only get about four hours of drinking water every four days, which has caused major inconvenience. He said that although repeated requests have been made to the Corporation to improve the water supply, no solution has been provided.
The “Pokhara Water Supply Improvement Project” initiated in September 2017 with the goal of providing treated water to Pokhara residents has already been handed over to the Government of Nepal by JICA. The project involved an investment of NPR 4.81 billion (approx. USD 36 million) from the Government of Japan. Although the project aimed to purify and distribute 410,000 liters of water daily, the current daily demand in Pokhara exceeds 80 million liters. The main water source for the city is the Mardi River.
