Six sites covered under Rs 6.5 million project to reduce river pollution
KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 21
The Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee (BCIDC) under the Ministry of Urban Development has installed trash barriers at multiple points along the Bagmati River to capture floating waste and curb river pollution.
The barriers have been installed at six locations, including Gokarna Barrage, Guhyeshwari, Tilganga Eye Hospital area, the Bagmati–Manohara confluence, UN Park, and the Manohara–Karmanasha confluence.
Implemented under a Rs 6.5 million contract, the system is designed to trap floating waste such as plastic, polythene, bottles, and wooden debris without obstructing the natural flow of the river, according to the private secretariat of Minister for Urban Development Kulman Ghising.
Urban rivers in the Kathmandu Valley-including the Bagmati, Bishnumati, Manohara, and Dhobikhola-have been facing increasing pollution due to rapid urbanisation and weak waste management practices. The newly installed barriers allow waste to be collected at designated points, where it can be regularly removed, sorted, recycled, and safely managed.
Officials say the initiative will help reduce river pollution, improve the visual condition of the rivers, support aquatic life conservation, and contribute to better public health. The structures include floating components and a rubber conveyor belt that adjust with changing water levels while continuing to block surface waste.
(With inputs from RSS)
