A total of 32 metric tonnes of solid waste was extracted from Valley rivers on Saturday as part of the ongoing river clean-up drive that is carried out every Saturday. 

Around 16 metric tonnes of waste was scooped from the Bagmati river from Koteshwor Mahadev Temple to Manohara river area as the Bagmati Mega Clean-up Campaign entered 199th week on Saturday, according to Umesh Bohora, a campaigner. 

Officials of the High Powered Committee for Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilisation and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force, members of public and school students participated in the clean-up campaign led by Nepal’s Ambassador to China Leela Mani Poudel. 

Poudel, a former chief secretary, had initiated the Bagmati clean-up drive on May 18, 2013. 

A special programme has been announced for March 11 to mark the 200th week of Bagmati Mega Clean-up Campaign. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, House Speaker Onasari Gharti, Chief Justice Sushila Karki, government ministers and leaders of various political parties are scheduled to participate in the special programme to be held at Shankhamul to mark the occasion.

Similarly, three metric tonnes of solid waste was extracted the Rudramati river, one of the tributaries of the Bagmati river, from Devi Nagar Bridge to Bijuli Bazaar area, according to Rohit Giri, vice chairperson of the Rudramati Concern Society. The Rudramati Clean-up Campaign entered its 158th week on Saturday. 

Likewise, marking 131st week of Bishnumati Clean-up Campaign, 13 metric tonnes of garbage was extracted from the river from Manohara Tirtha area bordering Tarkeshower and Tokha Municipality in Kathmandu. RSS