Sunkoshi River cleanup removes over 24,000 kg of waste

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.