Valley
Bagmati clean-up marks 200th week
Bagmati Clean-up Campaign, a volunteer social initiative to restore the polluted river, marked its 200th week by organising a march along the banks from its origin Bagdwar to its outlet Chobhar.Samipa Khanal
Bagmati Clean-up Campaign, a volunteer social initiative to restore the polluted river, marked its 200th week by organising a march along the banks from its origin Bagdwar to its outlet Chobhar. Thousands of people participated in the walk completing at least one of the 18 sections the entire route was divided into.
The march in three major sections was inaugurated by top leaders from the three big political parties while local campaigners launched the march in the remaining sections. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal joined the campaign at Shankhamul, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba at Tilganga and CPN-UML Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader Subas Nembang at the Pashupati area.
Started on May 18, 2013 during the tenure of the Khil Raj Regmi-led government, the campaign has been drawing hundreds of people every week for cleaning up the river that is linked with the civilisation of the Kathmandu valley. A total of 7,500 metric tonnes of solid waste has been extracted from the river till date.
The clean-up drive has around 1,600 registered organisations backing the effort. Besides, more than 20 gardens have been proposed to be made on the riverbanks. The Art of Living campaign, Armed Police Force and Jorpati Club have already built gardens at Shankhamul, Tilganga and Gothatar, respectively.
“The Bagmati clean-up campaign has turned out to be a social movement and a cultural campaign,” said PM Dahal, addressing the programme.
Former chairman of the Council of Ministers Regmi, Chief Secretary Som Lal Subedi, Secretary at the PM’s Office Dinesh Thapaliya, Nepal Army, Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, actors, artists, scouts, employees of different organisations, youths and general public took part in the programme.
During the event, Chief Secretary Subedi publicised a 10-point commitment letter for a national sanitation campaign, which is slated to come into effect in April. Various government and public offices, security bodies, institutions, schools, universities, commercial and vocational agencies, non-governmental bodies and private organisations across the country have pledged partnership, coordination and participation for the scheme.