NAWALPUR, SEPTEMBER 23

Experts have emphasised conservation of the Narayani River that flows through Nawalpur and Chitwan districts.

Expressing their concerns over the increasing pollution in the river lately, they viewed that there were many possibilities offering the River.

In the recently held third edition of Dialogue on Water regarding restoration of wetland areas and collective efforts to conserve the Narayani River in Gaindakot in Nawalpur district, participants stressed on controlling pollution in the river.

Gaindakot Municipality Deputy Mayor Shanti Koirala asserted that the rivers and rivulets in their locality had brought in possibilities along with challenges. Due to rivers, Koirala opined that their locality was fraught with risk of flood, landslide and soil erosion among others.

She argued that human race's existence would remain if only rivers and wetland areas were conserved.

Similarly, Januka KC, chief of Environment Department in Bharatpur Metropolitan City, shared that the metropolitan city was working on waste management at the moment and was seeking sustainable solutions for waste management.

According to her, waste is dumped at riverside at the present but the metropolis is seeking a sustainable solution for it. Arun Devan, programme officer at Water for the World Wildlife Fund said that river conservation drive was facing more challenges due to increasing urbanisation.

Meanwhile, a conservation forum has been formed to launch clean-up campaign in the Narayani River. A 17-member ad hoc committee has been formed to take forward the river and wetland conservation and clean-up drive.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 24, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.