Polls fever affects river cleanup campaign

KATHMANDU: As the elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies are inch closer, with the first phase a day away, the participation of locals for cleanup campaign of rivers and ring road in Kathmandu Valley has decreased.

The campaigners attending the cleanup activities in the past have also moved to their home districts for the polls. Likewise, the security personnel also did not attend for cleanup in many sites due to their deployment for the polls.

Despite lesser participation of folks, a total of 36 metric tonnes of garbage was managed from ring road and rivers in the valley today.

It is said that five metric tonnes of garbage was managed from Pashupatinath Ram Mandir area as part of the Bagmati River Cleanup Mega Campaign that entered the 237th week today. Over 400 people were present in the campaign.

Likewise, the cleanup campaign of Bagmati river above Guheshwori entered 197th week today and nearly two metric tonnes of garbage was managed from Hanumanghat and Gothatar bridge area.

Nearly 100 plus people were present including the members of 'Ramro Jorpati, Hamro Jorpati' and Pudasaini Maitri Samaj and others. Similarly, one metric tonne of garbage was collected from Ratopul, Setopul, Maitidevi areas as part of Rudramati river cleanup campaign. The Rudramati river cleanup campaign entered 193rd week today.

Another, 10 metric tonnes of garbage was managed from Nayapul in Manamaiju of Bishnumati river with participation of 350 plus people.

Furthermore, the cleanup campaign of Manohara river has entered 35th week. Two metric tonnes of garbage was collected on the occasion with participation of more than 150 people. Similarly, five metric tonnes of garbage was collected from Balaju Chowk to Machhapokhari area along the ring road as part of the ring road cleanup campaign that entered 33rd week today.

The cleanup campaign was held with the initiative of Green Hill City Hospital.

In Bafal section of ring road, a total of 10 metric tonnes of garbage was managed with participation of security personnel and other organizations' representatives.