A 2,000-watt solar-powered water pump has been fitted in an artificial lake created water in Baijanath community forest in Shuklaphanta municipality for wild animals to drink.
The pump installation means to facilitate wild animals to drink water, said Bahadur Mahara, chairperson of the forest.
"Water sources are fast drying up due to excessive heat. Wild animals in course of a search of water are attacking human beings. So this pump has been installed," he said.
The solar pump installation cost over Rs 300,000. The artificial lake spreads across 10 bighas of land. The forest management has a plan to allow poor community to raise fish in the lake, he said.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to conserve Puraini Lake in Belauri municipality of Kanchanpur district, said the municipality's mayor Poti Lal Chaudhary. The municipality will transform a portion of dried lake into a pond and fence it in all four directions.
The lake that spread across 32 bighas of land has now been shrunk to 28 bighas due to human encroachment. The municipality will also launch a drive to remove the encroachers, he said. "The lake will be returned to its previous condition. Income can also be generated by raising fish in it."
