KATHMANDU: The implementation of the ambitious Bagmati Action Plan (BAP) — aimed at cleaning the polluted holy river — began today, with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal laying a foundation at Gokarna.

“I dream of being able to jog along

the Bagmati banks early morning, breathing in fresh air. I guess, so does everyone. I urge all to support the government bid

of restoring the Bagmati to its original pristine condition,” said the PM at a

function today.

The BAP was prepared by a team of experts, in coordination with the National Trust for Nature Conservation and the High Powered Committee for Integrated Development of Bagmati Civilisation (HPCIDBC). PM Nepal received financial and technical pledge from his Indian counterpart Dr Man Mohan Singh during his India visit in August. Contrary to the agreement of the two premiers that a technical team would conduct a field visit of the Bagmati in September, such a team arrived here only in December. “The four-member team started a field visit on December 16 and returned on December 18. The team, headed by the joint-secretary of Ministry of Forest and Environment of India, visited the field and held meetings with officials and experts here,” said Mahesh Basnet, HPCIDBC chairman. “The technical team will submit a detailed report soon.” The government, has, however, started the work with its own funds. “The work will be started immediately, while negotiations with donors continue alongside,” said Basnet. The action plan is proposed to be executed at a cost of Rs 14 billion over five years. The government has allocated Rs 280 million for the project.

As per a new arrangement, 0.5 per cent will be levied on land and house deals in the Valley during registration, to be spent on the sanitation project. In the first phase, the project will be implemented in the Gokarna-Guheshwori area, constructing sewage canals, roads, greenbelt, check dam and embankment within 15 months.

The Sharma and Lama Construction Company has been contracted to undertake the project. In the first phase, a 3.2 km sewage canal, 1.8 km road, 1.65 km embankment and two check dams will be constructed.