Kathmandu, July 7

The District Forest Office, Kathmandu is set to start a tree plantation programme from tomorrow on the banks of the Bagmati River.

The office said that the programme will be inaugurated by Forest and Soil Conservation Minister Agni Prasad Sapkota.

District Forest Officer Indra Prashad Sapkota said at least 200 trees would be planted along the corridor at Sankhamul tomorrow. “We plan to plant around 2,900 to 3,000 trees this year at various places on the banks of the Bagmati River,” he said, adding, “This may cost at least Rs 6 million.” Sapkota added that other areas for the plantation programme had not been decided yet, as encroachment of land on the river banks had made it difficult to find locations.

Last year, the forest office had planted 2,900 trees at various stretches along the Bagmati corridor, including Gokarna, Jorpati, Teku, and Buddhanagar, among others.

Locals and the Bagmati clean-up campaigners have pledged to support the programme. The Committee for Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilisation said it has been providing land for plantation on the basis of resources and proposals furnished by people or institutions.

“If the organisation or individuals have enough resources and the right proposal, we never deny them the land for plantation,” said Senior Divisional Engineer at the committee Prabhat Shrestha.