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Khurkot: In a significant environmental effort, CREASION Nepal, in collaboration with Golanjor Rural Municipality, local Youth Cohorts, the Armed Police Force (APF), Nepal Police, Traffic Police, and other stakeholders, conducted a river cleanup campaign that removed a staggering 24,575 kg of waste from the banks of the Sunkoshi River and nearby waste hotspots.

On May 31, over 100 individuals gathered in Khurkot, Golanjor-7, to participate in the cleanup initiative organized by Project CAP (Collaborative Approach for Preventing Plastic Leakages in Rivers). 

Ujjwal Upadhay, team lead for Project CAP, highlighted the significance of this event as part of a broader initiative to conduct at least 12 river cleanup campaigns across seven municipalities that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CREASION.

“In collaboration with Golanjor Rural Municipality, we successfully relocated 24,575 kg of waste from the riverside to a designated landfill site using a loader, an excavator, and two trucks, each making 20 trips with a load capacity of 1.2 tons per trip,” Upadhay shared. “This effort not only opened a path to the new landfill site but also managed the remaining waste at the previous hotspot using standard waste management practices.”

Aanand Mishra, founder and president of CREASION, emphasized the importance of individual responsibility in conserving natural resources. “We should not rely solely on external motivation or funding for crucial work like nature conservation. This commitment should come from within, ensuring a better future for Nepal. However, in some cases, such incentives are necessary for innovative solutions.”

He added, “It depends on whether we leave clean hills and mountains or polluted ones. We must understand that our actions today are for ourselves, our country, and our community, ensuring a better environment for future generations.”

Similarly, Shankar Baral, Chairperson of Golanjor Rural Municipality, expressed his gratitude for CREASION’s support in tackling the municipality’s waste management challenges exacerbated by rapid urbanization. “Plastic waste is a severe issue in Golanjor, with plastic bottles and other debris scattered everywhere. We are fully committed to supporting CREASION Nepal in its mission to keep our rivers clean through collaborative efforts,” Baral affirmed.

Sujata Koirala, General Secretary of CREASION, representing the VFC-Youth Cohort initiative within Project CAP, emphasized the importance of engaging young people in sustainable practices. “Through various campaigns, advocacy programs, and community outreach, we aim to instill a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for recycling among the youth and the larger community,” Koirala explained.

CREASION Nepal, established in 2005, is a not-for-profit organization focusing on Environment and Sustainability, Disaster Risk Reduction, Youth, and Volunteerism. Project CAP aims to divert plastic waste from landfills and rivers into the product value chain by enhancing plastic waste collection mechanisms and promoting recycling through technological innovations. This project is part of the PLEASE (Plastic Free Rivers and Seas of South Asia) initiative, implemented by the South Asia Cooperative Environment Program (SACEP) and supported by the United Nations Procurement Services Secretariat (UNOPS) and the World Bank.

A tourist guide died due to altitude sickness at Langsisa in Gosaikunda Rural Municipality-4 of Rasuwa district.

The deceased has been identified as Bijay Tamang (24) of Melamchi Municipality-6, Sindhupalchowk district.

He died while a group of six to seven persons, who had come to explore a new trekking route of Langtang-Kyanjin Valley-Langsisakharka from Panchpokhari, were descending the lower altitude.

Tamang had returned after reaching 5, 800 meters above Langsisa while going to Tilmand Pass in search of a new route.

He had a problem while descending the Langsisakharka.

Relatives of Tamang, a guide of Take on Nepal, said that he could have been saved had he received treatment on time.

Inspector Netra Paudel, Information Officer at the District Police Office, Rasuwa, who had returned after reaching the incident site, said that he could have died of altitude sickness. The postmortem report is yet to come.

Kathmandu is gearing up for a spectacular event as Heritage Garden transforms into a biker’s paradise for The Annapurna Express Nepal Bike Day. Set to attract biking enthusiasts from across Nepal, this event promises an unforgettable experience with a lineup of exciting activities and attractions.

Bikers from every corner of Nepal will converge on Kathmandu, joined by six daredevil riders from India, who will showcase their impressive bikes. As the sun sets, the roar of engines will fill the air, creating a thrilling atmosphere for attendees.

The event will feature a stunning display of bikes, including iconic models like the Suzuki 750 GSXR, Ducati V4, BMW S1000, Ducati Monster, CBR 6000, and a variety of Kawasaki super bikes. This spectacle is sure to captivate motorcycle aficionados and casual fans alike.

Adding to the excitement, live music performances will energize the crowd. The lineup includes The Honeycombers, DJ Khatra, Sid, Rolex, and a special live set by Bizen. The highlight of the evening will be a performance by Carl Wine from the Netherlands, promising to set the stage ablaze.

Attendees can indulge in a variety of culinary delights from numerous food stalls and quench their thirst with refreshing drinks. Biking stalls will feature the latest models from top brands such as Honda, SH Moto, Bajaj, and KTM. The event is proudly sponsored by RIVA Natural Spring Water.

While the event promises high-octane fun, it also carries a vital message about road safety. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of wearing protective gear, particularly helmets. The event will also celebrate women riders, encouraging them to embrace the thrill of biking.

In a bid to promote responsible behavior, the organizers urge against drinking and driving. They have partnered with Tootle, a ride-share service, to offer attendees safe transportation alternatives.

Tickets for the event are priced at Rs 500 and are available through Khalti, the official ticketing partner.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has honored Nepali peacekeeper Bhupajit Rai posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold medal. Rai had served the UN stabilization mission in Congo.

At a ceremony organized at the UN Headquarters to mark the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on Thursday, Secretary-General Guterres handed over the honor presented to Rai to Permanent Representative of Nepal to UN Lok Bahadur Thapa.

Highlighting the bravery, dedication and devotion of Rai who laid down his life in the course of discharging the duty, the Secretary-General expressed his confidence that Rai would remain an inspiration for all those deployed in peacekeeping missions.

Rai had passed away in Congo on October 13 last year.

The International Day of UN Peacekeepers has been observed since 1948 which marks the deployment of military observers to the Middle East to supervise the implementation of Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements, in what became the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization.

Since then, more than two million peacekeepers from 125 countries have since served in 71 operations around the world. Today, some 76,000 women and men are serving in 11 conflict zones across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Nepal is the largest contributor of military and police personnel to UN peace operations with more than 6,000 now serving in Abyei, the Central African Republic of the Congo, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, Western Sahara and Yemen.

The Nepal government has been deploying the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel as peacekeepers.