By Jiwaccha Yadav

Siraha, Mar :3 Devidaha, a lake in Lahan, is a major destination for domestic tourists from nearby places of Siraha, Saptari and Dhanusha districts. However, due to lack of its proper management, the domestic tourists visiting the pond get disappointed.
Located seven kilometres South from Lahan Bazaar, Devidaha is visited for picnic and recreation. But the four boats in the lake do not sail, electric wires are strangled, toilets do not have water and cleanliness is out of the to-do-list.
“Five years ago when I visited Devidaha for picnic, it was beautiful. Now five years later when I came expecting similar or more beautiful Devidaha, my expectations shattered,” said Jitendra Mahato, who came to visit Devidaha from Dhangadhimai Municipality.
Similar to Mahato, many visitors have been returning with heartbreaks due to the dilapidated condition of Devidaha recently. According to locals, a major reason behind Devidaha’s poor condition is its management committee.
“If a better management committee is formed, Devidaha could be as beautiful as it was two years back,” said Manju Bhandari, a vendor in Devidaha area.
In 2015, the Nepali Army had improved and conserved the Devidaha area as a part of Rashtrapati Chure Terai Madhes Samrakshan Sammittee’s programme. However, a well conserved and managed Devidaha by Nepal Army degraded later.
“The recent situation of Devidaha is a result of carelessness by Devidaha Forest Committee,” blamed Binod Yadav, a local.
Meanwhile, local government of the area has assured to conserve Devidaha and regain its beauty with concrete plans and their effective implementation.
“A new management committee has been formed to improve Devidaha. It will be developed as a major tourist destination which will attract tourists from India as well,” said Prathamlal Chaudhary, chairman of ward 17 of Lahan Municipality, the area where Devidaha is situated.