KATHMANDU, May 1

Campaigners and volunteers of the Bagmati Clean-up Mega Campaign will not throng the banks of the Bagmati River to remove solid waste from the holy river tomorrow.

Chief Secretary Leela Mani Paudyal, who has been heading the initiative for the past two years, said they have decided to mark the 103rd week of the campaign by cleaning the makeshift homes and their adjoining areas where thousands of the April 25 earthquake survivors have been living for the past one week.

“We have come to a conclusion that it will be more effective to shift our focus to the makeshift homes from the river in the wake of the quake which rendered thousands of people homeless,” said Paudyal through a press release issued today.

The quake survivors who are camping in open spaces of the capital city are under the threat of epidemic due to poor sanitation and waste management.

“Campaigners and volunteers will clean the camps and their premises tomorrow,” he informed. Paudyal also appealed to all to gather in Sano Gaucharan, Gongabu, Sinamangal, Tilganga, Chyasal, New Baneshwor or other nearest camps for the cleanliness drive.

Campaigners and volunteers will also raise awareness about the outbreak of diseases among quake survivors.