The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has removed nine metric tons of dust and solid waste from the city’s core area over the past week as part of its ongoing ‘Clean City’ initiative. The campaign was launched last week by Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya and Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi.  

Starting off in Bagdurbar area, the cleaning staff and city police of the KMC carried out the clean-up drive in Sundhara, New Road and Ratnapark area. 

The metropolis has been carrying out the task twice a week in a bid to make Kathmandu “a pollution-free city” “Our priority is to make the city dust and pollution free,” said Hari Bahadur Kunwar, newly appointed chief of the Environment Division at the KMC. Kunwar, who previously headed the KMC’s Administration Division, has replaced Rabin Man Shrestha. Shrestha has been appointed as Social Development Director at the KMC. 

Talking to the Post, Kunwar said reducing the level of dust in the metropolis will be his first priority. 

“Once we complete the cleaning of Tundikhel area, we will proceed on to bigger roads. However, the roads which are currently under construction will be left alone,” he said. 

Several recent studies suggest that Kathamndu’s air pollution level is high, giving the country’s capital the unenviable distinction of being one of the most polluted cities.

36 metric tons of waste collected Kathmandu: The Mega Bagmati Clean-up Campaign and the Chakrapath Clean-up Campaign might have witnessed a relatively lower turnout of people due to Sunday’s federal parliament and provincial elections, yet volunteers collected a total of 36 metric tonne of solid waste from various rivers on Saturday morning. The Bagmati Clean-up Campaign completed 237 weeks on Saturday. (PR)