Over 116 bighas of land in Nandan Tal, located in Palhinandan Rural Municipality, West Nawalparasi, have been encroached upon.
According to locals, the lake once had a vast water body, home to various fish species, animals, and birds. Livestock such as cows, buffaloes, and goats also grazed around the lake. However, after a canal was dug on the southern side for fishing, the water drained out, causing the lake to dry up. Some landowners have since started farming on the dried land. The once thriving lake has now turned into farmland, and its original form has disappeared.
Some residents, after encroaching on the land, have caused the lake to lose its recognition, according to Krishna Chandra Yadav, Ward Chairman of Palhinandan Rural Municipality-6. Previously, the lake was leased for fishing, which started in the months of Kartik and Mangsir.
Currently, wealthy individuals have encroached on the lake’s land, leasing it out to the poor for farming. Over 116 bighas of land in the name of Nandan Tal is officially recorded, says Amin Harendra Yadav from Palhinandan Rural Municipality.
Efforts are now being made to conserve Nandan Tal and promote it for tourism. Plans include creating guest houses for internal and external tourists to provide local employment. However, after a map was drawn to promote its conservation, the encroachers attempted to obstruct these efforts, according to Baiju Prasad Gupta, Chairman of Palhinandan Rural Municipality. Nandan Tal, an ancient site located near Sanai village, seven kilometers south of Parasi, is now a focus of local representatives for preservation.
