Mayor stages sit-in to promote bamboo

By Our Correspondent,Khotang, July 28: Tirtharaj Bhattarai, the mayor of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadi Municipality, Khotang, has started his hunger strike at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu. Mayor Bhattarai started his strike on Sunday morning, putting forth seven different demands.

Mayor Bhattarai has called for a decision to harness the economic potential of bamboo, which is currently being wasted. 

He advocates creating an environment where income can be generated by properly utilising bamboo and related raw materials. 

Mayor Bhattarai announced that he would continue his hunger strike at Maitighar Mandala from 9 am to 5 pm or three days. He said that if his demands are not addressed, he will start fast-unto-death from 9 am on July 30. 

Shaving his head, walking barefoot, and carrying a mat, Mayor Bhattarai reached the southern gate of Singha Durbar, from where the Nepal Police took him to Maitighar Mandala.

Mayor Bhattarai demands include the creation of an environment conducive to generating income through the use of bamboo and related raw materials. He stated that despite repeatedly making written and verbal requests to the federal government to develop laws promoting the use of local raw materials, the government has ignored them, which is why he has resorted to the sit-in.

He calls for the formulation of building codes and the enactment of laws to enable the use of bamboo and other raw materials in government buildings. He has also urged the Ministry of For ests and Environment, the Ministry of Industry, and all relevant agencies to create policies that promote the procurement of eco-friendly furniture and building materials made from bamboo, wood, straw and other sustainable resources. Furthermore, he has suggested that Khotang be declared the bamboo capital.

To emphasise bamboo's significance, the municipality organised the first national bamboo conference from February 27 to March 1, 2025. Additionally, Mayor Bhattarai has demanded that the government take appropriate steps to protect farmers' crops in villages from monkeys and other wild animals.