The Nepal government has confirmed it will not remove the ancient boulders from Chobhar Galchhi gorge to help drain monsoon rains from Kathmandu Valley. Instead, authorities plan to focus on waste removal and prevention of landslides .
The Ministry of Urban Development issued a statement clarifying that while debris from previous dumping will be cleared, the natural rocks at the gorge’s exit point will remain intact. This reassures locals who opposed earlier plans involving military assistance to widen the gorge mouth.
Ministry spokesperson Narayan Prasad Mainali said, “Waste management will be carried out as the problem of flooding around Chobhar Galchhi recurs during incessant rains,” adding there were no plans to excavate the historic rocks. He explained that the ministry’s long-term goal is to prepare an action plan—based on technical study—to clean waste, identify landslide-prone slopes, and find sustainable solutions without disturbing the gorge’s heritage value.
Chobhar Galchhi, about seven kilometres south of Kathmandu, is the main outlet for draining water from the valley’s rivers, including the Bagmati and Bishnumati. Blockages during the wet season have previously exacerbated flooding in the capital.
Earlier in late May, officials from the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Executive Committee, chaired by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, had decided to deploy the army—led by the Urban Development Ministry—to clear accumulated trash and debris from the riverbed to prevent monsoon overflow. That decision was part of the Monsoon Preparedness and Response National Plan 2082, created in response to forecasts of above-average rainfall .
However, the proposal to mobilize military forces and remove rocks drew strong criticism. Heritage advocates and local residents warned that altering the gorge’s natural rock formations could destabilize surrounding hills, sparking landslides and harming the region’s ecological and cultural integrity .
Mainali emphasized that all planned work would respect the original structure and cultural significance of Chobhar Galchhi, including both Hindu and Buddhist legends that hold it as the key to Kathmandu Valley’s formation.
The 2024 monsoon season dealt a heavy blow, claiming around 250 lives nationwide, including over 50 in Kathmandu. The Meteorological Department has since issued repeated alerts, urging residents to be vigilant as heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are expected this season.
