The plan to protect Manang’s Gangapurna Himal Lake, which is facing existential threats, is stalled due to a lack of budget. The lake’s beauty is deteriorating each year due to glacial erosion, sedimentation, and debris accumulation. According to Kancha Ghale, Chairman of the Manang District’s Ngisyang Rural Municipality, the lake’s survival is increasingly at risk due to the halted conservation efforts that began three years ago.
The conservation project, initiated in collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation and the Ngisyang Rural Municipality, faced budget shortfalls from the outset. The ministry was to cover 70% of the costs while the rural municipality was responsible for the remaining 30%. However, the project has languished due to insufficient funding. Ghale reported that although some progress was made initially, the lack of further budget disbursements has halted the work.
Following heavy rains and flooding in 2078 B.S., locals also took the initiative to protect the lake, including constructing a dam using voluntary labor. The construction company, Jaljala/Shivshakti/Adhikari JV, was awarded the contract for infrastructure development in Ashoj 2078, but has only partially completed the work due to funding issues. The initial budget of NPR 25 lakhs from the Tourism Ministry was insufficient, and subsequent funds did not materialize.
Currently, only about 20% of the planned work has been completed. The project aims to build a dam, prevent glacial erosion with gabion walls, and improve tourist infrastructure around the lake. Discussions are ongoing about how to fund the remaining structures if the ministry cannot provide further support.
Ghale expressed concern over the lake’s declining condition, noting its importance as a source for local rivers and its potential tourist attraction. Shambhu Kumar Mishra, head of the Tal Protection and Development Authority of Gandaki Province, confirmed that no work has been done by the authority so far.
Tourist guide Gurung highlighted Gangapurna as an attractive destination along the Annapurna Circuit. He emphasized the urgent need for preservation due to the lake’s increasing siltation and the broader environmental implications.
The lake, located at an altitude of 3,540 meters in Ngisyang-6, Manang, was featured in Bollywood’s film “Uchai” starring Amitabh Bachchan and Anupam Kher. It is fed by glaciers from Gangapurna Himal and is accessible within 15 minutes from Manang village.
An integrated study by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) found that Nepal has 2,086 glacial lakes, with 21 considered at risk. Dr. Regmi, a climate expert, noted that rising global temperatures directly affect the Himalayan region, increasing the risk of glacier lake outburst floods. He recommended installing early warning systems and regular monitoring of high-risk lakes using satellite and radar technologies.
