KATHMANDU, June 5: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has highlighted Nepal's contribution to the world environment protection and conservation efforts.
In his address to a program organized on Tuesday, marking the World Environment Day today, the Prime Minister said, "Nepal has a significant contribution to the protection of world environment as it has kept 45 percent forest area safe which is itself the contribution to the protection of world environment."
He took the time to call on all countries in the world to contribute to the protection and conservation of environment from their respective capacity.
Stating that some big and rich countries sometimes gave lectures to Nepal on the issue of environment protection, he drew their attention towards the chemical pollution by industrial nations. "Such pollution is 100 times harmful than wood fuel."
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According to the Prime Minister, in the context of Nepal, environment has become polluted to some extent due to lack of awareness, growing aspirations for development and imbalanced development. Impact of environmental and ecological imbalance is unpredictable and the world comes under a high risk of grave disasters in such situation and thus world's combined efforts should be on keeping the environment safe for future also.
Underlining the need of sustainable protection of environment for the entire earthly lives and for future, he urged the people to make initiations for the same right from homes, local settlements and local-level. "Balanced and sustainable development is essential to attain the sustainable development," he said, drawing the attention of all towards that end.
Also speaking on the occasion, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth urged all concerned to help the government implement its policies to operate 50 percent electric vehicles within five years, while Minister for Forest and Environment Shakti Bahadur Basnet pledged to coordinate with other ministries, province and local governments to put into practice 'the Clean Environment Mega Campaign, 2075' that aims to conserve environment.
National Planning Commission member Dr Krishna Prasad Oli suggested the launching of a door-to-door campaign to conserve environment and develop economic, social and environmental prosperity.
Mayor of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Bidya Sundar Shakya also sought help from all in executing his campaign to make Kathmandu city green and beautiful.
Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City Chiribabu Maharjan said the use of plastic bag will be banned in Lalitpur from coming July 17.
On the occasion, Jalbinayak Community Forest Users' Group in Kirtipur, Environmental Sustainable Development and Research Centre in Dang and journalists Mukesh Pokharel and Manoj Poudel were honoured for their contribution to environment conservation.
