"Laxmi Group Joins Hands with Pokhara City for Eco-Conservation and Community Empowerment"

Pokhara, August 7 –

Pokhara Metropolitan City and Laxmi Group Foundation (Laxmi Group) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) focusing on environmental protection, lake clean-up, and employment generation within the metropolitan area. The agreement was signed on Thursday by Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya and Laxmi Group Chairman Ganesh Bahadur Shrestha.

According to Mayor Acharya, the project aims to sustainably conserve the lakes, maintain ecological balance, promote tourism, and empower local communities economically through skill-based training and job creation.
As one of Nepal's leading business groups, Laxmi Group has committed to supporting environmental conservation and community empowerment in Pokhara as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR). This initiative has been formalized through the MoU.

The project will work to remove silt and invasive water hyacinths from the lakes, thus preserving ecological balance and maintaining the lakes’ tourist appeal. The removed water hyacinth will be processed into handicraft products, creating job opportunities for local communities through skill development. Additionally, students from Gandaki Polytechnic Institute will receive internships and vocational training to encourage employment and entrepreneurship.

The program also includes the distribution of induction stoves to underprivileged households and support in upgrading electrical infrastructure in coordination with the Nepal Electricity Authority. This contributes to the goals outlined in the city’s first Five-Year Urban Energy Plan. Furthermore, efforts will be made to seek climate finance and climate justice funds to assist marginalized communities.

According to Chairman Shrestha, the project will be implemented in a collaborative manner, covering lake clean-up, weed management, handicraft production, skill development, internships for students, and distribution of electric stoves to low-income families, along with improvements in electrical infrastructure.

Laxmi Group will introduce advanced technologies from home and abroad, and manage necessary financial resources, equipment, technical experts, consultants, manpower, and training for processing handicrafts and distributing electric stoves.

The project will run for five years, including a six-month pilot phase. It will be regularly monitored and evaluated based on defined technical standards. In the first phase, a six-month pilot project will be assessed, and depending on its effectiveness, it will be gradually expanded to other lakes including Fewa Lake.

The project is expected to significantly contribute to the sustainable conservation and development of Pokhara’s lakes, resolving issues of pollution and waste. It will also help improve the livelihoods of local communities, increase income opportunities, and support the implementation of Pokhara Metropolitan City’s Five-Year Urban Energy Plan through environmental balance and clean energy solutions.