One of the major polluters of the river has been identified as many dry-cleaning and dying shops operating in the area. They have been discharging harmful chemicals into the river. [break]
Although government officials have sealed off one such shop, others are yet to be brought to book and they continue to discharge harmful chemicals, posing grave threats to the river´s existence. Bagmati cleaning campaign was launched on May 19 with the initiative of Advertising Association of Nepal (AAN), Film Artist Association of Nepal (FAAN) and Gayatri Pariwar Kathmandu. After the campaign gained huge publicity, several colleges, schools, NGOs, government organization also joined the effort.
But polluters like dry cleaning and dying shops have dashed their hope of keeping the Bagmati River clean.The campaigners are disappointed because of such activities. According to them, it would be impossible to clean the river if dyers and drycleaners continue to dump harmful chemicals into it.
“Owners of all industries must be aware of their wrongdoing,” says Raj Kumar Bhattarai, president of AAN. “Their disregard is discouraging for our aim to clean Bagmati and increase aquatic species in the river.” According to the Department of Environment (DoE), the dry-cleaning shops and dying industry are discharging harmful chemicals not only into the Bagmati River but into several rivers in the Kathmandu Valley.
“Although we do not have records of such industries, many local people have reported about them and their negative consequences to the local environment,” says Yubak Dhoj GC, director general of DoE. “We will seal all such undertakings that are polluting the rivers of the Kathmandu Valley.” The DoE sealed Jai Mata Di Washing, a dry-cleaning shop in Gaushala, on August 2 after it was found to be discharging hazardous chemicals into the Bagmati River. The DoE also warned two more dry cleaning shops, RK Dying and SK Dry-cleaners, operating in the same area.
While conducting monitoring work, representatives from Department of Cottage and Small Industry (DoCSI) and Kathmandu Metropolitan City´s Environment Division were also present.
“After local people complained about the three industries, we went to monitor the situation,” says GC. “We discovered that they were not only discharging harmful chemicals into the Bagmati River but also running illegally. None of them are registered and have the permission from the government to run their businesses.”
According to GC, there are many such undertakings that are running illegally in the Kathmandu Valley.
Such firms have been violating Environment Act 2053, which says no body has the right to conduct any activities which is harmful to the environment, and Waste Management Act 2070, according to which industries or individuals must manage their waste by themselves.
According to Baburam Adhikari, chief of DoCSI Adhikari, "Not just industries but the rivers of the Kathmandu Valley are being polluted by general public as well."
“The government should only ban businesses that dump chemicals but also prevent the drainage pipes from discharging human waste into the river,” says Adhikari. “Otherwise, the businesses will get an excuse as they can point finger at people who throw waste material into the river.”
Dyers and drycleaners use very harmful chemicals, according to chemists. They use acetic acid which is harmful for human body as well as for the aquatic species.
“The acid is very harmful and affects aquatic animals and plants as well,” says Devi Prasad Bhandari, a chemist. “People may suffer from allergy if they come in contact with the water.”
“The rivers in Kathmandu Valley are in bad shape because of the contamination resulting from such harmful chemicals,” concludes Bhandari.
2,000 celebrate 13th Bagmati Festival
More than 2,000 people celebrated 13th Bagmati River Festival (BRF) on Saturday. They celebrated the festival by cleaning the Bagmati River.
Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT), an organization for conserving and protecting rivers, organized various programs like rafting on Bagmati River, musical programs, among others, in the occasion of the festival.
According to the organizing committee, nearly 2,500 people participated in the festival and cleaned the Bagmati River from Guheshwari temple area to Bhatkekopul.
“We organized such program in order to create awareness among people for preserving the Bagmati River," said Mausam Khanal, coordinator of BRF. “The presence of huge number of people made our program successful. It also shows people are really concerned about the degrading condition of the Bagmati River.”
Chief Secretary Lilamani Poudel, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Raj Kumar Shrestha, Sectary of Ministry of Urban Development Kishor Thapa and celebrities like Rajesh Hamal, Ani Choying Dolma were present at the festival. Similarly, senior journalist Kanak Mani Dixit, Bhairab Risal and officials of different organizations like Nepal Police, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) took part in the festival.
According to Khanal, Nepal Telecom contributed toward the effort by sending messages about the festival to all NTC users.
The festival was also highly supported by the campaigners of the Bagmati Sanitation Grand Campaign (BSGC), which has been organizing Bagmati cleaning program every Saturday.
“We are happy to know that people are also concerned about the Bagmati River and want to clean it,” Raj Kumar Bhattarai, president of Advertising Association of Nepal.
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