Bamboo campaign: Mayor Bhattarai stages sit-in at Maitighar, seeks federal support

By Narayan Prasad Ghimire, Kathmandu, July 29: Mayor of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality, Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, has been staging a sit-in at Maitighar Mandal, Kathmandu, for three days.     

"Despite repeated requests for the support on use and promotion of locally available plant, bamboo, the federal government did not pay heed. So I'm beginning a fast-unto-death from next day," he warned, informing that the federal ministry, however, made an informal approach that it would address his demands.     

Bhattarai, an ardent advocate of the use of locally available resource like bamboo for propping up rural economy and contributing to sustainable environment, shared the plight that only informal approach was made by the Ministry of Forest and Environment on Tuesday. He was requested to quit the sit-in. "But, the municipality needs a formal letter and a talks team from the government before I stop my campaign of bamboo promotion. I'm determined to stage a hunger strike," he added.     

The Mayor, who has been staging a sit-in from 9:00am to 5:00pm for three days near Singha Durbar, the central administrative complex of Nepal, further argued, "My campaign is not merely for a certain local level or community, but for entire nation. It is high time we practically promoted the use of environment and ecology-friendly materials where federal government requires creating a favourable atmosphere."     

Bhattarai has put forth 7-point demands before the federal government, including the erasure of legal hurdles that ban use of bamboo in furniture and building. He demanded policy level decision of the federal government on promotion of the use of multi-purpose woody grass, bamboo, so that even the local levels would be forced to use and promote it.     

Together with this, he has also demanded to force the plastic producing companies to pay 10 percent tax to the local levels. The Mayor urges the government offices (the Environment Ministry, the Industry Ministry and their subordinates to begin) to mandatorily introduce the use of environment and eco-friendly materials including that made of bamboo.     

Expressing solidarity to Mayor Bhattarai's campaign and agitation, reaching Maitighar Mandal on Tuesday, Sundar Khanal, a green activist, underlined the need of addressing Bhattarai's concern, as the demands he raised were for the welfare of country and people.     

"Nepal can learn even from the neighbouring countries on use and promotion of bamboo. Use of bamboo applying modern technology will ensure huge economic benefits. It is urgent that federal government facilitated the local level to promote bamboo," he reiterated. According to him, proper use of bamboo helps Nepal sharply decrease import of woods.     

Similar solidarity was extended by former secretary of Nepal government and expert on bamboo, Dr Annapurna Nand Das. He wondered why the government was not responding promptly to the genuine demands of Mayor Bhattarai. He gave the examples of India and Philippines where the local governments are required to mandatorily use the locally available goods. They have finely promoted bamboo, Das said, expressing worry that although there is a strategy on bamboo promotion, the implementation is very weak.     

"I liked the positive campaign Mayor Bhattarai launched for the use of local resources and indigenous products. His untiring campaign will certainly prod the federal agencies to consider the policy and actions that promote bamboo," Das added.     

Not allowing use of bamboo in building code is worrying concern, he said, adding that most the demands Bhattarai raised were enforceable.     

Earlier, the municipality had held a three-day national bamboo conference in Khotang and issued a 35-point declaration, urging all sides concerned to promote use of bamboo and avoid plastic materials, thereby keeping environment in balance.(RSS)