KATHMANDU:  A total of 35 metric tonnes of garbage was collected from various major rivers and the ring road area of the Kathmandu Valley on Saturday.

Nearly 17 metric tonnes of waste were managed by cleaning the Bagmati River near Gusingal at Tripureshwor as part of the 215th week of the Bagmati Cleanup Mega Campaign.

Over 550 people participated in the cleanup campaign. On the occasion, Chief Executive Officer of Gorkha Finance Raj Kumar Rai provided 650 masks, 600 gloves, 20 baskets and 60 pairs of gumboots to the campaigners, campaigner Umesh Bohara said.

Goodwill Ambassador of Bagmati Cleanup Campaign Manisha Koirala, former secretary  Krishna Chandra Poudyal, chairman of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 11 and other civil society leaders were also present.

Besides, personnel of Nepal Army, Nepal Police, High Powered Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Kathmandu Upatyaka Kanepani Limited, Blue Cross Hospital, Muktinath Development Bank and many other organisations took part in the campaign.

Likewise, two metric tonnes of waste was managed from Bagmati in Bagmati Gokarneshwor Municipality. The cleanup campaign was organised by the Pudasaini Maitri Samaj and Ramro Jorpati, Hamro Jorpati.

Furthermore, the Bishnumati River Cleanup Campaign entered 146th week today itself. As part of the campaign, two metric tonnes of waste were managed by collecting the garbage along the Dip Jyoti School to Bus Park area of the river.

Moreover, the Ring Road Cleanup Campaign that entered its 11th week today collected 11 metric tonnes of waste from Samakhusi Chowk to Gongabu area. A large number of hoteliers and women too participated in the campaign.