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Photo: Siraj Khan A groundwater recharge pond constructed in the buffer zone of Banke National Park.

The Sikta Irrigation Project has constructed four groundwater recharge ponds in the Gabhar area of Baijanath Rural Municipality in Banke.

The recharge ponds were constructed at the request of Banke National Park to improve water availability in the park's buffer zone.

Raju Acharya, director of the Sikta Irrigation Project, said the ponds were built under the project's corporate social responsibility programme at a cost of Rs. 40 million. The initiative aims to provide water for wildlife and local farmers during periods of extreme heat while strengthening groundwater recharge.

“These ponds will significantly improve the local water ecosystem. They will serve as drinking water sources for wildlife during the dry season and help recharge groundwater,” Acharya said.

The multipurpose artificial ponds have been designed to collect and store naturally flowing rainwater behind engineered embankments. According to the project, they will not only conserve rainwater but also contribute to flood control.

Krishnalal Chaudhary, operator of the Gabhar Valley Homestay, said the man-made ponds are connected to natural water sources and are expected to gradually evolve into wetland ecosystems and eventually resemble traditional ponds.

He expressed confidence that the large recharge ponds, built at the foothills of the Chure hills, could also help replenish groundwater that supplies hand pumps in Nepalgunj.

Acharya said the project plans to construct more recharge ponds in the next fiscal year.

Local entrepreneurs believe the four ponds will become a tourist attraction in the future, while Banke National Park expects them to improve water access for wildlife in the increasingly dry forest.

According to Acharya, the recharge ponds will serve multiple purposes, including rainwater harvesting, irrigation, providing water for wildlife, flood mitigation and promoting eco-tourism. He added that one of their greatest benefits is their positive contribution to the environment.

By Siraj Khan