SATV 12 July, Kathmandu: The government has withdrawn its decision to remove gravel and five large boulders from the Chobhar Gorge in an effort to prevent obstructions in the flow of the Bagmati River during the monsoon season. The new stance now indicates that the gorge will remain untouched.
The initial plan to remove the gravel and clean the gorge met with public backlash from local residents, who raised concerns over potential damage to archaeological and historical structures in the area. Due to this opposition, the government has retracted its decision. According to Uddhav Prasad Nepal, information officer at the High-Powered Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee under the Ministry of Urban Development, the gorge will not be disturbed.
On May 28, the 32nd meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority’s executive committee had decided to coordinate with the Nepal Army to remove obstructions in the Chobhar Gorge to prevent future floods in surrounding areas during continuous rainfall. The ministry was assigned the task of implementing the decision through its Bagmati Development Committee. However, a senior official from the ministry confirmed that the authority itself later decided not to proceed with disturbing the gorge due to local resistance. “After opposition from locals, the authority suggested halting the plan. Therefore, we have stepped back from the decision,” the official stated.
Following reports that the government was planning to cut through the Chobhar Gorge and remove large natural boulders, local residents became agitated and prevented government officials from initiating any work in the gorge.
In the last week of June, the ministry issued a press release clarifying that the government intended only to remove debris previously washed down to the area and to identify and prevent possible landslide-prone zones above the gorge, without widening the gorge itself. The release also stated that the aim was to reduce flood risk around the gorge while preserving its religious, cultural, and ancient significance. Despite the clarification, public opposition remained strong.
There are five large boulders located within the Chobhar Gorge, which locals claim have naturally existed there for a long time. Officials from the High-Powered Bagmati Civilization Development Committee, however, said the boulders would not be removed if proven to be naturally placed, but if found to have been carried by the river, they would consider removing them. A consensus between the local community and government representatives could not be reached. Locals insist the boulders have always been part of the gorge and are firmly against their removal.
Committee representatives had earlier argued that if the gravel stuck in the gorge was not cleared, water flow in the Bagmati River could be obstructed this monsoon season, potentially leading to flooding in nearby areas. Prior to this, technical staff from the Bagmati Development Committee had visited Chobhar Gorge to monitor and inspect the gravel and boulders.
Following the inspection, the technicians prepared a report noting that large boulders had fallen above the gorge and could fall further. The report stated: “In the Chobhar area between Lalitpur-18 and Kirtipur-6, landslides on both sides of the gorge have raised the riverbed by about two meters. If the large boulders and accumulated soil in the gorge are not removed before the monsoon, there is a risk of obstruction in water flow, posing potential danger to areas such as Sakhambasti and surrounding settlements.”
