Mountain Clean-Up Campaign begins

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 30: A formal flag-off ceremony was held on Tuesday as a symbol of the beginning of the "Mountain Clean-Up Campaign-2023" which is being conducted under the leadership of the Nepali Army with the aim of protecting biological diversity and environment. 

Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Prabhu Ram Sharma handed over the campaign flag as symbol of the beginning of the clean mountain campaign to campaign leaders and wished them success 

The responsibility of the campaign was given to Director and Brigadier General Sundar Kumar Pandey of the National Parks and Wildlife Reserves of the Nepali Army.   

The campaign this year has begun with the theme “An endeavour to save the Himalayas.”

According to the Directorate of Public Relations and Information of the Army Headquarters, this year separate teams are expected to collect about 35 tonnes of garbage from Everest, Lhotse, Barunche and Annapurna mountains.

The Nepali Army has been conducting the campaign every year since 2019 in coordination and cooperation with various government and non-government organisations. The campaign, which will end on World Environment Day (June 5), is believed to help reduce the impact of environmental pollution and global temperature to some extent, which is a global challenge.

On the occasion, National Assembly member Sonam Gyalzeng Sherpa, Buddhist Guru Ngwang Lozang Yesi Gyachok Rinpoche, secretaries of the Ministry of Defence, and Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, generals of the Nepali Army and various personalities related to forest and environment and tourism, military attachés from different countries in Nepal, mountain climbing field were present.  

Ministry of Forest and Environment, Pokhara Metropolitan Municipality, Annapurna Rural Municipality, Coca Cola Foundation, Surya Nepal Pvt., Economic and Nepal Mountaineering Association, Himalayan Rescue Association, Rotatory Club of Nagarjun, Everest Link, Research and Sustainable Development Centre, Nepal and other organisations have provided technical support.