Banepa. Surya Bahadur Tamang of Khanikhola in Manedobhan of Panauti Municipality-1 has started earning a decent income in the village by running a hotel business along with a fishery. He said that the Rainbow Trout Fisheries, which was started by a cooperative in the village 12 years ago, has been operating on a rental basis for the past few years.

The fishery, which was started by Manedobhan Savings and Loan Cooperative Limited, was handed over to Tamang two years ago who is also the land owner of the fishery area as well. After the organization signed a three-year agreement to pay NRs. 2,80,000 annually, Tamang has now opened a hotel along with the fishery business.

Tamang has claimed that when the co-operative hired employees, the business went in loss, but added that the business has been doing quite well since he started handling its operations. “Some days it gets less, some days it gets crowded. More than a million fish are sold on Saturdays,” he said.

One can also get fish by self-fishing at NRs. 1,300 per kg. At the current time, however, he has mentioned that the business has suffered due to the lockdowns, and further noted that there are already six ponds in the area. After receiving a grant of NRs. 600,000 from the government in the Bagmati Province, he is set to expand it by adding three more ponds.

The number of domestic tourists in Khanikhola has started increasing gradually. According to hotel Manager Suraj Tamang, most of the customers buy fish and eat through their stay at the hotel.