Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 25:

The Clean Energy Nepal (CEN) has raised serious concern over the sudden closure of the popular environmental radio programme — Ankur — by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

The programme had been on air every week on Metro FM for the past six years. Metro FM is run by the KMC.

The KMC, also a co-producer of the programme, had suddenly pulled off the programme, without formally informing the concerned stakeholders last Sunday.

KMC and CEN were the joint producers of the programme.

“No explanation has been given as to why this programme was pulled off air,” states a release issued by Bhusan Tuladhar, the executive director of CEN.

The programme used to cover various aspects of the urban environment besides raising different issues on environment, promotion of environment friendly technologies

and the interests of valley people.

“It is ironic that the municipality decides to close the programme just two weeks before the World Environment Day,” the release adds.

Head of the KMC’s Information and Communication Department Gyanendra Karki said the programme would resume within this week but the time will be changed.

“We had to close the programme last Sunday as we had already sold the time to other clients,” he said.