Pokhara is a remarkable place for natural beauty at an altitude of 827m. from the sea level & 200 Km west of Kthmandu. This city is ever known as a real paradise in Earth. The Valley is filled with swift flowing river & dotted with clear gleaming lakes. It is bleased with the back drop is the most dramatic sceneries in world. A 140km of panoramic Himalayan ranges seem close enough to be touched. But also can be felt. The magnificence of the Himalayas rising behind the lake create an ambience of peace & magic, popular for water rafting, Kayaking & trekking expeditions following the unification of Nepal in 1769. It took a shape of permanent bazaar (small town). Newar migrants from Kathmandu Valley established business and introduced new architecture design of the city. It grew as a catering place to caravan traders with limited infrastructure facilities located at the break of bulk point along the trans-Himalayan trade routes.
Designations of Pokhara as the administrative headquarter of district west No.3 on Rana regime supported to flourish the pokhara bazaar. The political change of 1951 further accelerated the development 1957 increased the linkage with Kathmandu, the capital city and surroundings. In 1958 it was formally declared as a municipality and resumed into Town Panchayat in 1965. Establishment of Indian Pension Paying Camp in 1960 and the British Pension Paying Camp in 1966 attracted in-migrants in Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City. Hydro-Power generation by Phewa dam provided electricity for the first time Construction of two High ways Viz. the Sunauli-Pokhara Highway (1969) and the Prithivi Highway 1972 linked with the Terai Plain and Kathmandu. Progress in functional establishments and growth as a center of trekking tourists contributed to its development. Designation of Pokhara as the headquarters of the Western Development Region of Nepal in 1972 Contributed to upgrade Pokhara Municipality into the present status of Sub-Metropolitan City in 1996.
The highest governing body of municipality is Municipality Council. The Municipal Council of Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City consists of 112 members including the Hon Mayor, Hon. Deputy Mayor, elected ward Chairman and members of 18 wards, nominated members and municipal Secretary. The municipal board consists of Hon. Mayo, Hon. Deputy Mayor, 18 Elected ward Chairmen and two nominated members. Likewise, ward Chairman and four members are elected in each ward.
Location
Between 83º 58'30" East to 80º02'30" East Longitude
And 28º 10' North to 28º 16' north latitude.
Area Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City 55.66 Km²
Pokhara Valley floor 123 Km²
Topography
Tectonic Valley between main Himalayan range and Mahabharat Lekh.
Gravelly surface slanting from northwest to southeast.
Elevation ranges from 627 mete to 980 meter above sea level.
River Seti with deep gorges and its tributaries and lake Phewa (4.43 Km') are prominent drainage.
Climate
Humid Sub-Tropical monsoon with hot and wet summer and cold and fairly dry winter.
Temperature: minimum 6ºc and Maximum 31ºc
Annual rainfall: 3880 mm
Population
Projected Population, 2008
2,93,696
Population Census, 2001
156312
An average family size
6.1
Population density
3848.83 Sq. Km
An average annual growth rate
7.41 %
No. of HH (Estimated)
57,305
Population Composition 2001
Brahman
22.83%
Gurung
21.62%
Magar
8.20%
Chhetri
15.35%
Newar
1.05%
Tamang
2.65%
Sanyasi
0.96%
Muslim/Chureta
1.21%
Thakali
1.08%
Rai
0.84%
Thakuri
1.55%
Dalit
8.71%
Unidentified
1.52%
Others
11.32%
Main Fairs and Festivals
Fairs
Heritage Sites
Dhungesangu Jatra,
Sunpandeli Jatra,
Bhairab Jatra,
Bagh Jatra,
Gai Jatra,
Haribodhani Ekadasi Mela,
Teej Jatra,
Talbarahi Jatra etc.
Natural Heritage Sites
Phew Lake
Seti River Gorge
Kamal Pokhari
Mahendra Cave
Patale Chhango (Devis Falls)
Gupteshwor Cave and
Shanti Ban Batika (Peace grove forest) etc.
Heritage Sites
Cultural Heritage Sites
Bada Dashain
Deepawali
Teej, Srawune Sarkranti
Maghe Sarkranti
Buddha Purnima
Lhoshar
Janai Purnima
Fagu Purnima (Holy)
Chaite Dashain
Shree Krishna Janmastami
Shree Panchami
Bindhabasini Temple
Tal Barahi Temple
Bhadrakali Temple
Narayan Than
Shova Bhagawati
Sitala Devi
Bhimsen Than
Bhairab Than
Jalpa Devi
Saraswati Temple
Bauddha Monastries
Buddha Bihar
Ram Krishna Tole
Gandrva Tole etc.
Museums
Regional Museum, Nayabazaar
Annapurna Meuseum, Prithivi Narayan Campus
Bhimkali Patan, Bagar
International Mountain Museum, Gharipatan.
Basic Infrastructure
Transportation
Air Service:
Different airlines to Nepal, Kathmandu are available from India & abroad. Maximum of 39 scheduled flights to Pokhara from Kathmandu are available and it took 25 to 30 minutes, Mountain flights as well as rescue and pilgrimage flight are available from Pokhara.
Highways
12 Km Part of three Highways
Blacktopped
165.01 Km
Graveled
35.99 Km
Earthen
66.235 Km
Total
267.24 Km
Surface Drainage
49.00 Km
Drinking Water Supply
26 Million Liters per day
Health Services
Regional Hospital
300 beds
Regional Tuberculosis Hospital
Outdoor facility only
Manipal Teaching Hospital
550 beds
Community Hospital
25 beds
Nursing Homes
11 Nos.
Polyclinics
2 Nos.
Ayurvedic Medicare
6 Nos.
Private Clinic & Pharmacies
63 Nos.
Electricity
Industrial customers
549
Non commercial :
256
Commercial
216
Domestic
24,589
Heritages
100
Irrigation
3
Others
8
Total
25,721
Communication
Total Telephone Lines
Nepal Telecom (land line)
22641 nos.
Mobile (Postpaid)
6000 nos.
Mobile (Prepaid)
51000 nos.
CDMA
1500 nos.
PCO's
22 nos.
Mero Mobile
Post Paid & Prepaid Mobile Service is in use.
Solid Waste
Government of Nepal & ADB ADB founded during second tourism infrastructure development project period Pokhara Environment Improvement Project has started in December 1997 and completed in June 2003.
Salient Features
Location
Ward No. 18 Pokhara
Inauguration date
June 2004
Area
10 He
Construction cost
NRs. 14,91,69,283.00
Vehicle Cost
NRs. 4,92,96,936.00
Donation
NRs. 7,43,31,354.00
Capacity
7,20,000,00.00 cum.
Land field type
Anaerobic
Treat print plant type
Read bed system
Machinery Tools Equipments
Tipper
7 nos.
Compactor
4 nos.
Septage collector
2 nos.
Water dozer
2 nos.
Chain Dozer
2 nos.
Wheel Loader
2 nos.
Tractor
2 nos.
Statistical Data
Solid waste collection per day
113 cum/ day
Collection 2004
18014.00 cum
Collection during 2005
38178.00 cum
Total Collection
68,208.00 cum
Septage management during 2004
not in use
Septage management during 2005
696.00 cum
Total collection
832.00 cum
Note: In Lakeside and Damside areas, the role played by Hotel Association for solid waste management is appreciable.
Education
Community
Private
Preprimary
-
2
Primary
11
25
Lower Secondary
7
11
Secondary
10
79
Higher Secondary
11
11
Total
39
126
Students
Community
Private
M
F
M
F
Primary
4701
5498
10840
8586
Lower Secondary
2964
3744
5459
4236
Secondary
1913
2212
2756
2370
Campus
Tribhuvan University Campus
4
Tribhuvan University Affiliated Campus
5
Pokhara University Campus
1
Pokhara University affiliated Campus
6
Kathmandu University affiliated Campus
1
Mahendra Sanskrit University Affiliated Campus
1
Others
Fire Brigade
2
Ambulance
4
City Hall
1
Stadium
1
Economic Status
Income Source (2005 / 2006)
Land Revenue
16.35 %
Local Taxes
4.74%
Property Rental and Local Development Tax
53.44 %
Fee and Fines
25.24%
Misc. income
0.23%
Expenditure (2005 / 2006)
Salary
15.58%
Allowances
1.73%
Traveling per Diem
1.08%
Service
17.64%
Rent
0.18 %
Repair and maintenance
0.56%
Miscellaneous
4.95%
Grants, Assistance, Donation and Rewards
1.52%
Office Durable
4.2%
Construction and Renovation
49.56%
Industries
Types of industries
87
Total industries of all types (Small to medium scale)
2650
Employed Population
21023
Business Establishments
Number of business firms (Registered in .. ) (the dominant business activities are grocery, restaurants and bar, fancy stores and hotels)
8000
Business firms (Registered in Vat)
2618
Business Firms (Registered in Non Vat)
15707
Tourism
5 Stars Hotels
1
3 Stars Hotels
2
2 Stars Hotels
12
1 Stars Hotels
1
Tourist Standard Hotels
146
Room Available
4689
Bed Numbers
9352
Classified hotels and tourist class lodge
370
Restaurant and bar
774
trekking agencies
41
Travel agencies
52
Trekking guide
504
Total arrival of tourists in
2005
Japanese
6404
American
2821
British
7607
German
4625
Indian
16887
Others
35668
Total
74012
Tourists by Air
59%
Tourist by land
41%
Land Use
Tipper
7 nos
Compactor
4 nos
Septage collector
2 nos
Water Dozer
2 nos
Chain Dozer
2 nos
Wheel Loader
2 nos
Tractor
2 nos
Projects and Programs
Community Development Services (Urban Basic Services)
The Community Development Services (Integrated Services) Program was launched as an Urban Basic Services (UBS) Program from 1991 to 1998. From 1997, this program was re-launched as a community development (Convergent) Services program in Pokhara Sub-Metropolotan City. In the beginning, this program provided a great deal of physical support including construction support to the urban poor communities. The program provided latrine construction, school building construction, drainage construction, water tap construction, etc. Many types of skill development training, literacy programs for women, health/hygiene/immunization services for children and women, Child Day Care Centers were also provided. From 1997, this program has been focusing on only children and women. From 2002, a five year agreement was signed and the name and features of the program was changed as Decentralized action for Children and Women (DACAW). Now, UNIEF is going to phase out and PSMC is exercising for takeover of the running activities under this program. The activites are as follows.
1)
Health / Material and Child Health (MCH) Program
a)
MCH Clinic -22 Clinic every month
b)
Children Health Camps -2/3 camps every year
c)
National Vitamin A Program – 2times every year
d)
National Immunization/ Polio Day – as nationally required
e)
Urban DOTS Centre -5 Centers
f)
Female Community Health Volunteers Program – 56 Trained Volunteers
2)
Child Development Program
a)
Child Development Centre -17 centres
3)
Community Action Process -4 Communities in 2 wards
4)
Child Birth Registration –Orientation/ Campaigning / Awareness and supporting to the regular registration
5)
Parental Orientation
6)
Urban Out of School children Program (UOSP) for working children / child labor.
7)
Training and skill development
a)
MCH, HIV / AIDS
b)
Early Childhood Development (ECD), Parental Orientation (PO)
c)
Gender, Child rights, Women rights
d)
Leadership development, Office management, PRA
e)
UOSP, Psycho – Social Counselling
f)
Community Development / Social Mobilization
g)
Other skill Development trainings for women empowerment.
Rural Urban Partnership Section. (RUP)
Program implemented at 10th December 1998 with the assistance of UNDP.
Objectives
1)
To improve management capabilities of municipalities for good governance.
2)
To improve livelihood of rural and urban poor and disadvantages people through RU linkage activities.
Major Achievement
1)
Established urban information centre.
2)
Formed 305 tole organization (Community groups) within 37305 households
3)
Trained people by enhancing capacity and socio economic activities (No. of people 6242)
4)
Completed 149 cases of tole development plan through community mobilization of total project cost Rs. 1,96,59,896.
5)
Women and disadvantage people empowered to income generating and leadership activities in ratio of 55% in total.
6)
Running 1130 economic enterprises with credit facilities of Rs 2,78,20,379 and equity Rs 2,48,31,119.
7)
Supported in local economy worth Rs. 60 millions by saving mobilization and credit facilities.
8)
Linkage with surrounding Village Development committee in socio economic sector.
Public Private Partnership Programe for Urban Environment
PPPUE Programme is being implemented in Pokhara since 2001 with the assistance of UNDP. The programme focuses to mobilize the private sectors to use their resources and management capabilities to deliver urban facilities to the municipal people. The main stakeholders of the programme are the municipality, private sector and community groups.
Running projects under (PPPUE)
4
Proposed projects under (PPPUE)
7
Phewa Protection Social Awareness and capacity building project
Pokhara Sub-metropolitan city office (PSMC) is implementing the phewa Lake Environment Awareness and Capacity Building Project ( PLEACBP) with the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) since April, 2004. The main objective of the project is to improve the conservative management of Phewa Lake, particularly in water quality by enabling local institutions and communities to carry out environment awareness, capacity building and conservation programs with equitable participation from men and women. the project area comprises the urban watershed area of Phewa Lake i.e. area of ward no. 1 to 9 and 17.
To implement the activities, PSMC has formed local environment improvement committee (LEIC) in each ward comprising people from women's group, local NGO, clubs, intellectuals, social worker etc. They are successfully implementing the Community Initiated (CI) activities and have brought significant changes in the lake. Some of the activities to name are as follows:
a)
Cleaning program in all wards
b)
Removal of water hyacinth
c)
Check dam construction –to protect silt-ration and solid waste
d)
Iron Net and concrete slab over seti canal – to protect from people throwing waste material.
e)
Compost Drum / chamber and waste buckets
f)
Rickshaw and wheelbarrow to collect solid waste
g)
Hoarding board with message related to keep the environment clean and healthy.
h)
Toilet and septic tank construction for squatters.
i)
Tree plantation, Rally and Drawing Competition in the world environment day
j)
Demolishing and campaigning against illegal connection from septic tank to Strom water drainage.
k)
Exposure visit to other municipalities of Nepal.
Beside this members of LIEC and PSMC staff were also give capacity building training as Account training, Proposal writing training, Office Management, monitoring and Evaluation training, Participatory Planning and Project Formulation and Anchoring. Also, the compost training given to local people in each wards have helped to reduce the solid waste generated from each household to a minimum level giving rise to the longevity of the landfill site as well is reducing load of household waste to the lake. The formation of Participator (PERAMP) will also help in the collection process of waste in Pokhara city. All these acitivities have created awarness among local government and non government organization giving rise to their active participation in the conservation of Phewa Lake. The result of water quality test shows that the quality of water has improved significantly after the implementation of the project.
Our Commitments
The Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City is dedicated to develop the city as a capital of tourism, education, health and greenery. The specialization in these sectors of development is feasible because of its favorable geo-physical and socio-cultural environment and active participation of urban population. It is envisaged that Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan city can be an environment friendly city in the sub-continent.
Considering these realities Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan authority is committed to improve physical infrastructure and services namely, urban road, surface drainage, drinking water supply, electricity, telecommunication, solid waste management, public sanitation, education and health facilities and to provide these services to urban population efficiently. Effective implementation of the by-laws is taken as priority task to check the haphazard and uncontrolled urbanization. Considering the socio-economic level of the urban population, the priority is given to skill enhancement and income and employment generating programmes. Similarly, the issue of environment and its conservation is also equal important to upkeep the urban environment in balance to convert Pokhara into the best and attractive destination for tourists and to make our dreams come true as well.
International Relation
1. Member of Citynet
2. Member of ICLEL
3. Sister City of Komagane (Japan)
4. Sister City of Linzhi (China)
S.NO.
Department Name
Phone No.
1
Municipal Secretary
061-525340
2
Administration Department
061-521104
3
Planning Department
061-521460
4
Account Department
061-542455
5
Law Inspection Department
061-540550
6
Pokhara Environment and Solid Waste management section
