KATHMANDU: Minister for Forests and Environment Shakti Bahadur Basnet has said the government would amend several provisions of Environment Act and launch awareness programmes as part of special priority to ensure clean environment to the citizens.

Speaking during a programme in Kathmandu, with the World Environment Day approaching, Minister Basnet said the programmes would be launched in order to create a balance between environment and development activities and increase public awareness as well.

Likewise, Ministry Secretary Bishwanath Oli informed that the Ministry would organise week-long programmes to mark the World Environment Day this year.

As per the grand campaign for clean environment, pollution control, sanitation, waste management and wise use of open spaces would be focused.

On the same occasion, Deputy Director General at Department of Botany, Mohan Dev Joshi, presented a working paper on positive impacts of the mega campaign. In accordance with the campaign, he said, at least five per cent of open spaces in each local level would be filled with greenery in a year. Similarly, at least one model garden would be set up in each local level, he added.

Efforts would be made to reduce daily wastes in the cities including Kathmandu by 20 per cent, while a system would be developed for the households and offices to manage their wastes on their own. The use of plastic bags would be discouraged and those of paper and cloth promoted.