Two wards in Suryodaya declared environment-friendly

By Prem Adhikari,Ilam, June 8: On the occasion of World Environment Day, two wards of Suryodaya Municipality in Ilam have been declared environment-friendly wards.

After a prolonged effort to meet the required indicators, the municipality officially declared Ward Nos. 8 and 9 as environmentally friendly wards on Thursday.

During a special programme organised in both wards, Chairman of the District Coordination Committee of Ilam, Jay Prakash Rai, and Mayor of Suryodaya, Ran Bahadur Rai, handed over certificates and officially announced the wards as environment-friendly.

To make this possible, the municipality had introduced and implemented the 'Environment-Friendly Local Governance Procedure 2080' for Suryodaya Municipality. 

According to Administrative Officer Luna Khatiwada, within two years, the municipality met 70 per cent of the basic and advanced indicators such as waste management, plantation drives, plastic reduction, environmental education, protection of water sources, water testing, home gardens, planting of fruit trees in public spaces, formation of disaster risk reduction and preparedness committees and promotion of alternative energy.

Speaking at the programme held in Ward No. 8, Ward Chairperson Jang Gurung said that it had taken considerable time and effort to make the ward environment-friendly. Although the initiative started with just two wards, the municipality plans to extend it to all 12 remaining wards.

Suryodaya Municipality Mayor Rai said that the declaration was only possible with the support of the local community development organisations. He said, “First, every home needs to become environment-friendly. Then the ward, and eventually the whole municipality, will follow.”

He also stressed the need to immediately begin work to meet the remaining 30 per cent of the indicators. Currently, 18 community development organisations are active in Ward No. 8 and 13 in Ward No. 9.

Chairperson of the District Coordination Committee, Jay Prakash Rai, praised the initiative, saying that in the face of growing climate change impacts, Suryodaya's steps toward environmental sustainability are commendable. “Not just Suryodaya, but all municipalities in Ilam should run such campaigns,” he added.

Deputy Mayor Durga Kumar Baral highlighted that the indicators used for the environment-friendly ward declaration align with the Sustainable Development Goals. He urged everyone to work together to maintain this status, saying that such efforts require community-wide participation, not just the involvement of elected officials.

At the programme held on Ward No. 9, Ward Chairperson Devendra Sharma presented a report on the work done to meet the indicators and the plans ahead.

Each ward declared environment-friendly will now display a sticker, which will serve as an information tool about the municipality’s initiatives.

According to Ishwari Adhikari, Chief of the Municipal Forest, Environment and Disaster Management Section, the wards have worked on mobilising local resources, improving solid waste management, promoting greenery, ensuring clean drinking water and sanitation, promoting environmental technologies and renewable energy, disaster management, organic farming, public awareness and community engagement.

Going forward, the wards plan to promote ecological tourism, establish eco-clubs in schools, and implement programs like 'One House, One Tree.'

Earlier, Suryodaya had already been declared a child-friendly municipality. The municipality, which has also been declared a tourist city by the Koshi Province government, now aims to become both environment- and nutrition-friendly.